Following a round of thunderstorms two weeks ago, Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department officials said downed power lines caused two parked cars to catch on fire in Great Neck.
At 2:58 p.m. on Friday, June 22, Manhasset-Lakeville firefighters put out a blaze that quickly engulfed two cars, which were parked behind a building at 27 West Mill Drive in Great Neck, a fire department news release said.
The fires began when a power line was knocked down during “a round of stormy weather, including heavy rains and thunderstorms,” the news release said.
“(The Long Island Power Authority) was experiencing severe delays in their response and units could do nothing more than stretch a precautionary hose line to protect the exposures while awaiting the arrival of LIPA to remove power from the primary wire igniting the vehicle,” the news release said.
LIPA crews responded to the fire “roughly 2 1/2 hours” after Manhasset-Lakeville firefighters secured the scene, the news release said.
Firefighters said that LIPA crews immediately cut off power to the lines and the car fires were extinguished.
Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department companies 2 and 3 responded to the scene and Engine 8735 was the first to arrive on the scene.
