At least 11 people were taken to area hospitals after a work train caught fire inside the Astor Place subway station in Manhattan early Tuesday morning, prompting a large emergency response and temporary disruptions to multiple subway lines, as reported by The New York Post.

The Fire Department of New York said the incident began shortly before 2:15 a.m. when a vacuum train used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to remove debris from subway tracks caught fire at the Astor Place station in the NoHo neighborhood.

Firefighters responded to what officials classified as a second-alarm fire. According to the FDNY, 46 firefighting units were dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze and assist with evacuation efforts.

Emergency crews remained at the station for several hours as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and ensure the area was safe.

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The FDNY said six MTA employees and five firefighters were transported to nearby hospitals following the incident. Officials did not immediately release information regarding the extent of their injuries or their conditions.

In addition to those hospitalized, one MTA employee was evaluated by emergency medical personnel at the scene but declined further medical treatment.

Authorities have not announced what caused the vacuum train to catch fire, and the incident remains under investigation. No additional information regarding the origin of the fire was immediately available Tuesday morning.

The fire also affected subway service during the morning commute. The MTA confirmed that portions of the No. 4 and No. 6 subway lines were temporarily suspended while firefighters continued operations inside the station.

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According to the transit agency, there was no train service in either direction between Grand Central–42 Street and Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall while emergency personnel responded to the incident.

Transit officials advised commuters to expect delays and seek alternate transportation until service could be restored.

The MTA recommended that riders use the M15, M102 or M103 bus routes as alternatives during the disruption. Passengers were also advised that the N, Q and R subway lines remained available for travel through the area.

Astor Place is a major subway station serving Lower Manhattan, and interruptions along the Lexington Avenue Line can affect thousands of riders during the morning rush. Transit officials did not immediately provide an estimate for when full service on the affected portions of the 4 and 6 lines would resume.

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Firefighters and transit personnel continued working at the station after the flames were extinguished to assess equipment, inspect the tracks and determine whether any infrastructure had been damaged by the fire.

As of Tuesday morning, officials had not reported any injuries involving passengers, and no evacuation figures had been released.

The FDNY and MTA are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire, including what caused the maintenance train to ignite. Officials had not announced whether the work train sustained significant damage or whether the incident would affect future maintenance operations.

The situation remained an active investigation Tuesday morning, and officials indicated that additional information would be released as it becomes available.

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