WASHINGTON — A fire that had been extinguished earlier reignited, leading to smoke-related injuries to five Port Authority Trans-Hudson employees, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary report on its investigation into a May 8, 2025, incident in a PATH tunnel in Jersey City, N.J.
The report was released today (June 3, 2025).
The incident occurred about 7:56 a.m. on westbound Track G just west of the Grove Street station in Jersey City. Train No. 734 stopped so three employees — an operations examiner, car inspector, and a rail power employee — could attempt to extinguish the fire in a third-rail feeder cable. As smoke accumulated, Port Authority police evacuated passengers from the train, then evacuated crew, as well. The three employees attempting to extinguish the fire, as well as the train’s engineer and conductor, were treated at a local hospital for their injuries and were released.
A fire had initially been reported in the same location at 7:25 a.m.; that fire was extinguished and operations resumed about 7:44 a.m.
The ongoing investigation will focus on PATH policies, practices, and procedures related to third-rail inspections and fire suppression; the condition of third-rail feeder components; and PATH inspection and maintenance of those cables.
