Sunday, February 22, 2015

THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF DEICING CHEMICALS: MANHOLE FIRE ERUPTS ON EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK




SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015

EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN, NYC (WABC)

FDNY and Con-Ed crews were on the scene of a manhole fire Saturday.

The fire started on Third Avenue between East 56th and 57th Streets. 

Firefighters responded to reports of a smoking manhole at about 4:30 p.m. 
They arrived to find flames coming from under the street. 

Utility crews say no buildings have lost power. 

Officials say the fire was likely sparked by salt, used for snow removal, mixing with water and shorting out the wires. 

This is just one of the unintended consequences of using deicing chemicals to treat the roads during the winter time.  Other effects of these chemicals include, but are not limited, to:

1.   Groundwater contamination;
2.   Clogging of pipes with calcium deposits and other metal deposits;
3.   Corrosion of concrete and other surfaces