Manhole Fires Close Austin Street

Austin Street, the busiest shopping district in Forest Hills, was closed for several blocks Wednesday afternoon after several manholes caught fire in the area.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but a fire department representative said there were no reported injuries and no one had to be evacuated from the area, though several ambulances were on the scene.

The incident, which started in a manhole at 71-19 Austin St., was called in at 2:20 p.m., FDNY officials said.

Con-Ed crews arrived at the scene at 3:12 p.m. to begin working on the scene of the fire, which fire officials said was extinguished at 2:50 p.m.

The smell of smoke still hung in the air at 71st Road and Austin Street for at least 30 minutes after the fire was put out.

A fire official confirmed that 12 total FDNY units with 65 firefighters were present at the scene.