Commuters Injured as Train Burns During Dallas Rush Hour

Bianca Rodriguez-Mora and Suryatapa Chakraborty
The Dallas Morning News
(TNS)

DALLAS — Six people, some of whom suffered minor burns, were taken to a local hospital and nine people were treated at the scene after a fire involving a DART train occurred Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

Flames, sparks and black billowing smoke could be seen coming from the DART tunnel at Ross Avenue and U.S. 75 about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to a video posted on X.

Between 10 to 15 people were evacuated from one of the transit cars after a fire was reported on an Orange Line train near the Pearl/Arts District station, a DFR official said.

“We were able to get 40 passengers safely evacuated from the train, and we’re coordinating closely with first responders as they are investigating on the scene,” DART spokesman Jeamy Molina said.

Of the evacuees, six were taken for medical attention for issues ranging from anxiety, difficulty breathing and minor burns, but none of the concerns were considered life-threatening, according to an emailed statement from DFR spokesman Jason Evans. He said it was not clear how many people were on the train when the fire broke out.

Dallas Fire-Rescue dispatched 26 units to the scene as temperatures were at or above the 100-degree mark.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

Mario Aldrete, a tire service worker at the Texaco Tire Service Center Station, said he witnessed smoke coming from the end of the tunnel. He ran over to the tunnel to record the incident.

“I heard a bunch of crackling and stuff like that,” Aldrete said. “It sounded like a bunch of black cats or like gunshots going off.”

Aldrete described seeing people being evacuated, one woman in particular searching for cool air, and describing the noise as “gunshots.”

The fire resulted in the suspension of the transit agency’s service through downtown Dallas during the height of the evening rush hour. The transit agency said passengers should expect delays as a result of the late afternoon incident.

Traffic was closed to vehicles on Routh Street from the intersection with San Jacinto Street to the U.S. 75 overpass.

DART also said that all rail passengers will experience significant delays while they address the situation. Shuttle buses will be available to assist passengers at the Victory and EBJ Union stations.