Crime & Safety

VIDEO: Flames Belch From Manhole, Plunging Forest Hills Into Darkness

A transformer fire beneath Hyde Park Avenue at Ukraine Way has caused blackouts in Forest Hills.

A transformer fire beneath Hyde Park Avenue, still burning as of 10:45 p.m., has caused blackouts in Forest Hills. About 500 people were without power.

As of midnight, crews were working on the problem and expected to have it fixed in a few hours, according to Kate Leonard, a spokesperson for NSTAR.

Leonard said some equipment failed, causing the incident.

Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

People living along Hyde Park Avenue reported hearing a pop and the lights went out. Fire crews were on the scene as smoke bellowed from a manhole. From time to time, staccato bursts of noise and flame would rise from the manhole.

For sound and video of these bursts, view the 16-second video attached.

Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A neighborhood cat, undetered by the loud pops and flashes, sat on the wall at the sidewalk across from the manhole.

Traffic was being kept away from the area along Hyde Park Avenue from Ukraine to Walk Hill Street. The stoplights were out a Hyde Park and Ukraine and also at Ukraine and Washington. Residents who are still without power at 11:20 p.m. report a series of shorter outages occurred before the longer one.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Jamaica Plain