2 fires near train tracks in Philadelphia disrupt Amtrak, SEPTA service
Two fires near the train tracks in North Philly impacted Amtrak service between Philadelphia and New York and SEPTA's Trenton line Wednesday.
A Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson said there were at least two fires. One at 12th Street and Glenwood Avenue and another at 2nd and Erie streets.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scenes, and they are taking turns to rest and hydrate, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the fire at 2nd and Erie was placed under control around 1:53 p.m.
Images from Chopper 3 show flames and smoke at a property in the area of 12th Street and Glenwood Avenue in North Philadelphia.
Chopper 3 captured several cars on fire at the property. There's no word on what caused the fire or if there are any injuries.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it's assisting Philadelphia's fire marshal and fire department with the investigation.
Amtrak placed a temporary hold on trains between Philadelphia and New York as firefighters battled the blazes. Amtrak said train service resumed around 3:30 p.m., but commuters should expect delays.
The fire also impacted at least two train trips to and from Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Riders can check Amtrak's social media pages for updates.
The fire is close to SEPTA's North Philadelphia station. A SEPTA spokesperson said the train tracks belong to Amtrak, but the transit agency operates its Trenton line on the tracks. Service on the line was suspended but resumed around 5:15 p.m.
The Philadelphia Department of Health is warning residents to avoid the area, try to stay inside, avoid excessive activity, close windows and doors and recirculate air with fans.
The health department has dispatched inspectors to the area to collect air samples for air quality testing. At this point, no specific hazardous substances have been identified in the air.
