PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Kelly Drive is currently closed at Midvale Avenue as firefighters work to extinguish a fire on a freight train that reignited Friday morning.
The fire first broke out around 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, but it was placed under control about an hour and a half later. Firefighters returned around 6 a.m. Friday, when flames reignited. As of 4:45 p.m., crews are still on the scene battling the deep-seated fire.
Officials on scene said there are two major challenges to fighting this fire. There are no fire hydrants on the west side of the Schuylkill River, where the train is located. Falls Bridge is closed so crews can run hoses from a hydrant on the other side of the river.
There is also a thick sheet of ice on top of the train from firefighting efforts the day before, which is blocking water from reaching the new flames.
According to the Philadelphia Fire Department, there were no hazardous materials involved, just trash and construction debris.
The plan is to bring in excavators to move the burning Norfolk Southern train to a location where crews can access more water. That process is underway.
