Fire on subway maintenance train injures 14 at Astor Place

A fire aboard a subway maintenance train at Manhattan's Astor Place station early Tuesday morning injured at least a dozen people, including Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers and firefighters, and caused significant service disruptions during the morning commute. The incident occurred shortly before 2:15 a.m. on August 4, 2026, when a southbound four-car vacuum train, used to remove debris and oil from tracks, caught fire in the East Village station.

The Fire Department of New York responded with a second-alarm assignment, dispatching 46 units and 141 personnel to the scene. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke filling the station and billowing up to street level. Officials said the fire was concentrated in one section of the specialized train where debris is collected. Crews worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze, bringing it under control by approximately 5:30 a.m.

In total, 14 people were reported injured. The FDNY confirmed that seven MTA workers and six firefighters were transported to area hospitals for treatment of minor injuries, primarily smoke inhalation. One additional MTA worker was evaluated at the scene but declined further medical treatment....