Cars on Fire on New York Ave (Feb. 5, 2014)

crownheightster

Very strangely, two cars parked on New York Ave (between St. John's and Sterling Place) caught fire this evening. One was a white sedan and the other a minivan of some kind. Fire and cops were all over the scene, which is still active. The strangest thing is that firefighters were investigating the white sedan earlier in the evening, put up caution tape, and then LEFT THE SCENE. About 20 minutes later or so, the car smoked and caught fire and the firemen had to come back. Does anyone have more information about this? Could it be the arsonist setting cars on fire again?

newguy88

I heard the sirens too. I thought it was a building fire or a multiple shooting or something massive like that. It seemed like the sirens kept coming and coming. My guess is that someone called 911 about a smoking car. FDNY got there couldn't locate any thing and left. I really can't explain the tape maybe something was leaking from the car? I don't think it's the arsonist. Doesn't he usually burn more cars?

crownheightster

I actually have answers to my own questions! I wrote to Community Board 8 to investigate and here is what they told me. There was so much road salt on the stretch of road between Sterling and St. John's at NY Avenue that it caused the electrical transformers underground to catch fire. The fire came up through the manholes, and that is how two seemingly random cars caught fire. FDNY was investigating the smoking manhole prior to the fires, and thought they had stabilized the situation when they left. Sanitation removed the cars today, after the insurance adjusters and other city agency people came out to investigate and documents. So, that sounds a whole lot better than the arsonist. I am relieved.