At about 4 pm today smoke was pouring out of a hole at the corner of 7th Ave. and 21st. Towleroad happened to be on the scene. Because of the fire on the C train caused by a vagrant last night that has put that subway out of commission for years, yes years, I was more than concerned that the 1 and 9 were on fire this afternoon.
This fireman told me that it was a manhole fire. I'm not sure how often that happens in New York, but I'm sure it happens in Chelsea more often than other neighborhoods.