Repairs made after manhole fire near Fourth Street Station; delays avoided

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Subway service returned to normal Friday morning, according to the MTA, after a manhole fire near a West Village station.

The fire caused a smoke condition inside a tunnel Thursday night near the West Fourth Street and Washington Square Station. The smoke delayed subways during rush hour, and damaged signal power cables. Service on the A, C, E, B, D, F, M and R lines was affected.

Subway service resumed around 7 p.m. using manual signals, which slowed trains and forced them to make frequent stops. The fire knocked out the automatic signals that help maintain safe separation between trains.

The New York City Fire Department put out the smoke within an hour. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Straphangers inside M train in between 23rd Street and 14 Street station had to walk to first subway car to exit.

For information on the specific delays for Friday morning please visit: http://www.mta.info.