A fire fueled by a gas main on an overpass on Long Island which raged out of control for much of Monday afternoon, has been brought under control, according to police. The parkway remains closed for its entire length. Use Route 135 as alternate for Bethpage Parkway and Hempstead Turnpike instead of Central Avenue.
The fire, which erupted at about 3:55 Monday afternoon, was in a remote area and was brought under control with no injuries, police said.
The fire was on the Central Avenue overpass over the Bethpage Parkway. The cause of the gas main break was not immediately known.
Representatives for the KeySpan Energy utility company were not immediately available for comment.
Bethpage Parkway around the overpass would be closed until an engineer could certify its safety, police said.
Ninety minutes after it started, as the gas main fire roared into the sky, it ignited nearby trees and overhead high-tension lines. At least five fire companies responded to the scene.
Traffic was disrupted around the scene of the fire. Bethpage Parkway's entire length was shut down, forcing motorists to use Route 135 as an alternate to Bethpage Parkway.
