The Penn Station fire that ignited in a construction zone in the early morning hours on Tuesday has been deemed "suspicious" by fire officials, who also said the blaze will likely delay evening commuters.
According to ABC News, the fire started in two construction sheds two floors under the West End Concourse on Eighth Avenue and West 33rd St. Black smoke soon flooded the MTA subway station for the A, C, and E lines, and all commuters and employees were evacuated.
FDNY Chief James Leonard said in an impromptu press briefing after the blaze was quelled that over 150 firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire, with two suffering injuries. Structural damage caused by the fire was under the supervision of engineers, he said.
"The fire is suspicious," Leonard announced to reporters. "We do have our fire marshals on the scene."
The fire caused some delays for morning commuters using tracks 19-21 on the Long Island Rail Road and the westbound side of West 33rd Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, which were both shut down Tuesday morning. Electrical power on some LIRR tracks was cut as a precaution, but officials said no damage to the tracks was incurred.
LIRR is expected to have some delays during the evening commute, with 10- to 15-minute westbound delays between Jamaica and Penn Station specifically. MTA is expected to cross-honor LIRR fares for several subway trains including the 2, 3, 7, and E lines.
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