Secaucus, NJ – Brush Fires Near Tracks Halt Trains Near New York City

Secaucus, NJ – Officials say two brush fires have halted some rail service outside New York City.

Amtrak wrote on Twitter that service on its busy Northeast Corridor line is on hold between Newark, New Jersey, and New York’s Penn Station until a fire is cleared. And New Jersey Transit says its trains into Manhattan are being diverted to Hoboken.

The disruptions are due to fires that broke out in Kearny and Secaucus on Tuesday. Both blazes sent large clouds of thick, black smoke billowing into the air, but no injuries were reported.

Other New Jersey Transit trains are experiencing 20- to 30-minute delays in both directions.

The National Weather Service has issued a “red flag” warning, saying strong winds and dryness are creating ideal conditions for brush fires.