UPDATE: PATCO Trains Resume After 8 Alarm Camden Fire

PATCO train service resumed shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, using only one track in an area affected by a massive fire.  Full service resumed a short time later.

"We were only down for about 20 minutes," said Ed Kasuba, spokesman for the Delaware River Port Authority that operates the light-rail service." Fortunately this happened at 6 p.m. Our heaviest traffic is between 5 p.m. to 6 p.m."

Kasuba said NJ Transit provided some buses to transport commuters from Philadelphia up to the Westmont station in Haddon Township during the disruption.  He said the service is now operating between all stations, but on a delayed schedule.

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A raging eight-alarm fire in Camden on Thursday afternoon has led to the suspension of PATCO Hi-Speed Line rail service to South Jersey.

The smoky blaze at Chestnut and Orchard streets is near elevated rail lines that transport thousands of commuters from Philadelphia to towns in South Jersey such as Haddonfield and Collingswood.  

Delaware River Port Authority spokesman Ed Kasuba said all service was halted shortly after 6:30 p.m.  Kasuba said the Camden fire marshal at 6:10 p.m. asked that electrical power be cut to the tracks until the fire is brought under control.  

Commuters are stranded until the service is restored Kasuba said. Train service was running from Lindenwold west to Ferry Avenue and from 16th and Locust to Broadway in Camden before the total shutdown. The DRPA, which operates the light-rail  service, was trying to get buses from NJ Transit to transport its stranded commuters, but that effort stopped when the service was completely shutdown.

Please look for further updates when they become available.