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Manhole Fire In Midtown Leaves Businesses Dark, Snarls Friday Commute

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An underground transformer fire sent smoke out through several manholes and left four Midtown buildings in a sweaty darkness Friday morning.

Firefighters closed off a section of 47th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue around 8 a.m., WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reports.

Manhole Fire In Midtown Leaves Businesses Dark, Snarls Friday Commute

Con Edison also responded at the scene. Four buildings in the area were left without power as the thick aroma of an electrical fire filled the air. Business left in the dark included a video production business and a recording studio.

"I walked up with a fireman to shut down some of our computer gear, and there was no smoke in the building," said one employee.

The blocked off area reopened just before noon.

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