More than 1,200 Con Edison customers across Brooklyn were without power Friday as dangerously high temperatures strained the electric grid, leaving many residents searching for ways to stay cool.

News 12 was in Bushwick, where neighbors along Willoughby Avenue near Evergreen Avenue said they had been without electricity since Thursday night. Some residents said the outage began after a manhole fire, while others said they lost power hours before the fire.

According to Con Edison, the weather-related manhole fire was reported shortly after midnight. Utility crews worked throughout the day in extreme heat to restore service, with Con Edison trucks lining several blocks in the neighborhood.

The utility said more than 400 customers in the immediate area remained without power. Some customers were told service may not be restored until 11 p.m. Saturday.

Residents described the outage as a major hardship during the heat wave. Neighbors with electricity ran extension cords to nearby homes to help keep refrigerators operating and prevent food from spoiling. Others left their homes for parks, pools and beaches to escape the dangerous indoor temperatures.

Many residents said the outage came at an especially difficult time, with the Fourth of July holiday weekend about to begin.

Con Edison also said it reduced voltage in parts of the city to help protect the electric system during the heat wave. The utility is asking customers to conserve electricity to help prevent additional outages.