PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — About 120 Philadelphia firefighters battled a three-alarm fire on Tuesday evening at a junkyard in North Philadelphia, a fire that hampered Amtrak and SEPTA train commuters and led to an air quality alert in the city.
The fire happened near the corner of North Third Street and West Sedgley Avenue. Philadelphia Fire Department officials said that crews arrived at the scene at about 5:25 p.m. to battle the fire, and they are asking people to stay far away from the scene. The fire was placed under control at about 7:15 p.m.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has asked for people near the area of the fire to stay indoors due to smoke inhalation concerns.
Amtrak and SEPTA service through North Philadelphia was temporarily halted, and SEPTA trains in that area lost power due to the fire. SEPTA canceled the Chestnut Hill West and Trenton lines for the remainder of Tuesday night. (Click the links above for the latest updates from each train service.)
The fire could be seen from as far away as the Commodore Barry Bridge in Delaware County, according to a KYW Newsradio Traffic on the Twos tip caller.
There was no initial news on the cause of the fire or any injuries.