Fire shuts down Grand Central with ‘mass' cancelations as 100 firefighters rush in to battle flames and smoke
OVER 100 firefighters have rushed to Grand Central after fire and smoke filled the station, halting all trains.
Trains have been suspended, streets blocked, and emergency responders are flooding the scene after thick smoke was spotted in the train station in New York City.
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Trains were suspended at Grand Central Terminal
The disruption has unfolded near
Grand Central Place
in Midtown Manhattan, officials said.
The New York City Fire Department confirmed it received the first report of smoke at 8:08 am.
Dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene to control the smoke pouring out of the tunnel.
FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker later confirmed four people were hurt, three firefighters and one civilian.
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Tucker said crews faced 'zero visibility' as they searched through thick smoke for the flames.
'There was a significant amount of fire in the room where the fire started,' he said during a press update
Initially, 60 firefighters responded to the emergency, according to officials.
But the response escalated quickly as the situation worsened inside the tunnel.
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By 10:16 am, a second alarm had been transmitted, bringing the total to more than 100 emergency responders, both firefighters and EMS, at the scene.
Authorities are warning travelers to avoid the area and brace for major delays.
Dad and daughter, 9, die in house fire as sister, 11, fighting for life in hospital
The FDNY said to "expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel" around the station and instructed people to use alternate routes if they can.
'Use alternate routes,' they added.
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The Long Island Rail Road was hit hard by the emergency response.
Port Washington Branch service into Grand Central was suspended due to the fire activity, MTA said.
Train Lines Affected
Babylon
City Terminal Zone
Hempstead
Far Rockaway
Port Jefferson
Port Washington
Ronkonkoma
West Hemptead
Other lines saw westbound trains canceled at Jamaica Station or rerouted to Penn Station or Atlantic Terminal.
'Service in and out of Grand Central has been suspended,' the MTA confirmed.
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According to the LIRR, eight branches were dealing with suspensions or reroutes as of 11 am.
There are reroutes and cancellations on the Babylon Branch due to ongoing fire department activity at Grand Central.
Subway lines began cross-honoring LIRR fares to ease the morning rush.
As of 11 am, firefighters were still working at the scene, according to the FDNY.
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