Residents in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx were dealing with a daylong loss of basic electric service on July 31 when smoke was seen coming from two local manholes.
No fewer than four nearby buildings were left without power, according to Norwood News.
What happened?
Norwood resident Marcos Sierra filmed smoke rising from manholes while buildings in the area were losing power.
He shared the video on X on July 30 to alert Con Edison to the situation.
@ConEdison Smoke billowing from two separate manholes on Mosholu Parkway Between W Gun Hill Road and Gates Place. Smells like burning wires or rubber. Several buildings w/out power. Send help!! @NorwoodNews pic.twitter.com/2gMekgr1bt
— Marcos Sierra (@ElProfe369) July 30, 2026
In the video, Sierra tagged the utility company and added a pleading caption.
"Smoke billowing from two separate manholes on Mosholu Parkway Between W Gun Hill Road and Gates Place. Smells like burning wires or rubber. Several buildings w/out power. Send help!!" Sierra wrote.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Sierra said the smoke appeared to be spreading from one manhole to another and that "there's at least four buildings that I know from Mosholu Parkway on Gun Hill Road and Gates Place that are without power at all."
Con Edison spokesperson Anne Marie Corbalisa spoke to Norwood News about the incident.
"Our crews responded to a report of a smoking manhole yesterday. They worked to make repairs to a faulty cable and safely restored customers to service," Corbalisa said.
The utility did not immediately provide details on how many residents were affected or exactly how long the outage lasted.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
On Aug. 1, a separate Brooklyn incident was reported as well: Norwood News cited video posted on X that appeared to show a manhole fire on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, as traffic continued to pass by.
Why does it matter?
When apartment buildings lose electricity, residents can be left without lights, air conditioning, elevators, refrigerated food, the ability to charge phones, and power for critical medical devices.
A smoking or flaming manhole can threaten pedestrians, drivers, and nearby vehicles.
In a crowded city like New York, this also leaves residents unsure whether they should evacuate, shelter in place, or wait for repairs.
When electrical equipment breaks down underground, residents face spoiled groceries, interrupted routines, safety fears, and time spent calling 311 or the utility for updates.
What's being done?
Con Edison said a faulty cable in Norwood was fixed and service was restored, suggesting the outage there was resolved.
In Brooklyn, the company publicly responded to the social media post to ask for the exact location of the smoking manhole.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
