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3 Workers Hurt After Manhole Fire In Brooklyn

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Three National Grid workers were hurt in a fiery manhole explosion in Brooklyn overnight as crews were investigating a gas leak.

It happened around 1:30 a.m. Friday near South Second Street and Union Avenue. Video posted to the Citizen App shows flames shooting up from the ground.

"It was high like 10 feet 15 feet in the air and then I basically saw the aftermath. I saw it and then it went down. It was bad, scary," said resident Tyrone Hunter. "Have a 3-year-old, so it's kind of scary."

National Grid says the three employees were digging in the area, working to fix a gas leak, when the fire erupted.

One of the crew members was rushed to the hospital with serious burns. The other two workers suffered minor injuries.

"I hope we figure out what's going on. That is very dangerous and concerning," said resident Hannah Upstein.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control within two hours.

Covering their faces, residents say there's been a strong smell of gas in the area since Thursday afternoon. Many were worried about carbon monoxide poisoning but firefighters checked the surrounding buildings for leaks and found nothing.

There have been no reports of power outages but National Grid crews continue to search for the source of the gas leak.

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