Penn Station Evacuated due to Fire
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Penn Station was evacuated and train service was halted Monday after two fires broke out, causing chaos for hundreds of travelers at one of the nation’s busiest commuter hubs.
“Evening rush hour is going to be messy,” predicted Amtrak spokeswoman Marcie Golgoski.
The fires occurred in a transformer beneath the East River and on tracks near a terminal entrance, authorities said. Five people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but there were no serious injuries.
The causes of both fires were under investigation.
The fires forced Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey transit to alter routes. Subway service through the station was unaffected.
