A small explosion in a manhole on Gregory Avenue on Oct. 9 lifted a manhole cover and produced smoke, but did not injure residents or cause structural damage, city officials said.

Mayor said the event was “minor in the sense that it was isolated to 1 manhole, did not result in structural compromise, and did not impact the properties around the area.” He said PSE&G (Public Service Electric & Gas) and the fire department responded and that firefighters blocked off the area and kept pedestrians away while crews addressed the situation.

City staff described the cause as a buildup of methane gas under the street combined with electrical issues. The mayor thanked police, fire and emergency responders for their “brave and quick decision making” and reiterated that “no one was hurt.”

Council members praised the response and asked the administration to continue coordination with utility crews on any follow-up inspections or repairs. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting on the incident; the mayor and administration framed it as an operational public-safety response.

The council did not announce specific remediation timelines at the meeting. Residents with concerns about manholes or odor were directed to the city administration for follow-up.