Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Early morning train fire at Astor Place station injures 14 firefighters, MTA workers
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 4, 2026
Modified Aug 4, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Marc A. Hermann/MTA
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 4, 2026
Modified Aug 4, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A subway fire broke out in the East Village early Tuesday morning, leaving more than a dozen people with minor injuries and upending service on the 4, 5 and 6 lines.
The blaze broke out on a vacuum train near Astor Place around 2:15 a.m., according to the MTA and FDNY. Firefighters responded to the scene, and the FDNY reported the call grew to a second alarm just before 3 a.m., sending a total of 141 first responders to the scene.
Firefighters brought the fire under control by 5:30 a.m., according to the FDNY. MTA officials reported subway service was restored around 7 a.m., but noted commuters faced some residual delays while crews moved trains back into position for the morning commute.
MTA workers clean up after a train fire in the Astor Place subway station.
Photo by Ramsey Khalifeh / Gothamist
MTA officials said the car that caught fire was part of a vacuum train used to clear debris from subway tracks. The car first entered service in 2018 and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to the MTA.
Officials said seven MTA workers were taken to local hospitals to be treated for minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. An additional injured worker refused medical attention. Six firefighters were also hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and were reported to be in stable condition.
By mid-morning, the station had been cleaned up but still smelled of smoke.
This story has been updated with new information.
Stephen Nessen and Ramsey Khalifeh contributed reporting to this story.
Tagged
MTA
astor place
fdny
fire
nyc
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .