5 Critical Things to Know Right Now About the Shocking Penn Station Fire
* Fire erupted in a restricted mechanical area beneath the main concourse, causing zero passenger injuries but sending thick smoke through the busiest transit hub in North America.
* Service on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak was immediately suspended for over 90 minutes, stranding tens of thousands of rush-hour commuters in the tunnels.
* FDNY crews had to use thermal imaging cameras to locate and extinguish the blaze, which was sparked by electrical equipment failure deep in the infrastructure, officials say.
* A chaotic scramble followed as passengers were evacuated onto 7th and 8th Avenues, with many reporting difficulty breathing and terrifying moments of panic inside the crowded terminal.
* Teams are now working to determine if the aging electrical system that caught fire is linked to a broader safety vulnerability across the heavily trafficked station complex.