(The following article by Jim Walsh was posted on the Asbury Park Press website on August 16.)
CAMDEN, N.J. — A smoky fire on a PATCO Hi-Speedline train sent 31 people, including three firefighters, to area hospitals Tuesday and disrupted the afternoon rush-hour commute.
None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, police said, but the conditions of the injured were not immediately available.
Shaken passengers said the fire broke out beneath a rail car as an eastbound train approached the city hall station, beneath Fifth and Market streets in Camden.
“It was scary,” said Kevan Gould of Somerdale, who said the flames were on the outside of the affected car. “All we heard was a thud, then a lot of sparks, and flames spread the length of our car.”
PATCO spokeswoman Danelle Hunter declined to comment, saying the cause remains under investigation.
Thirty-two passengers were treated at the scene; about 300 people were aboard the train, Hunter said.
The injured firefighters, two from Camden and one from Collingswood, were affected by smoke and heat, Hunter and police said. Injured passengers, who were taken to four area hospitals, also were affected by smoke.
The fire broke out about 5:15 p.m. and was declared under control at 6:38 p.m., Hunter said. Eastbound and westbound service was stopped because of the blaze.
Two-way service, using only one line, was restored at 6:58 p.m. and all service was restored at 7:48 p.m., Hunter said.