When frozen snow, ice and chemical salt thaw and drip onto the wires under the streets, the insulation on those wires tends to wear off and the wires themselves can rub together and ignite a fire. FDNY tells us this is happening all over the city today. And it resulted in some dramatic flames and black smoke at a manhole on 66th street between Amsterdam and West End Avenue. Thanks to Denton Taylor and @trenchologist for the tips and photos.

If you see a smoking manhole, be sure to call 911.

So this exciting underground fire is on 66th between Amsterdam & WEA ( @westsiderag ) pic.twitter.com/tT0unh0DMS

— Please, call me Dr. (@trenchologist) February 18, 2014