Residents in Brighton Beach say they are frightened after hearing sounds of manhole explosions and seeing blasts of fire. 

They say it started at around 7 p.m. Thursday. Smoke can be seen coming from both sides of the block on Brighton Sixth Street. Video shows bursts of orange and red flames in one of the manholes. 

The FDNY tells News 12 it arrived just after 7:30 p.m. when it received a report about a transformer fire. It secured the area and waited for Con Edison to arrive. 

One witness described the sounds as firecrackers or gunshots.  

“We heard pop pop pop and then a big explosion,” says Veronica Grimm. “It scared the heck out of us, and we thought the car was on fire.” 

Neighbors say they are grateful they did not have to evacuate and still have their power.