Shortly after 5 :15 p.m. Aug. 15, at the height of the rush hour commute a fire broke out in one of six cars of a Philadelphia to Camden Patco Hi-Speedline train carrying 300 passengers.
They were trapped in one of the underground tunnels two blocks from the train exit station at 5th and Market Strrets. The first arriving Camden firefighters were confronted with hundreds of people trying to flee the smoke filled train tunnel. A second alarm was quickly sounded along with a special call for additional EMS Units, including all units from Camden City and various EMS units from Camden County.
Camden firefighters had the fire quickly extinguished in one of the cars but the heat and smoke took its toll. Over 60 people were treated at the scenee and many taken to local hospitals. Also, two Camden firefighters and one from Collingswood Fire Department were taken to the hospital and treated for heat exhaustion. Additional fire companies from Pennsauken, Gloucester City, Collingswood, Audubon and Cherry Hill Twp.Camden County Field Com unit. assisted Camden City firefighters.
