NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—City firefighters responded to a wild scene earlier tonight after a thunderstorm brought down a live power line in a precarious place shortly after 7pm.

The line sparked extensively, initially lighting a car on fire. The fire eventually spread to 44 Louis Street, located near the intersection with Brookside Avenue.

Large crowds gathered to watch as the carfire grew in strength and firefighters waited for utility workers to turn off the power line before extinguishing that blaze.

But smoke could be seen coming from 42 Louis, indicating a structure fire. Firefighters battled that blaze, extinguishing the last of it by 9pm without incident.

There did not appear to be any injuries but there is no official word yet. The city did not utilize the emergency alert system to notify residents of the incident and the city spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Electricity service has been restored to much of the Fifth Ward. Police were busy working to direct traffic at intersections along Somerset Street where traffic lights were not working.

For more photos of the car fire, please visit our Facebook album.