An Amtrak train caught fire Thursday evening, September 24, 2026, in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland, prompting an emergency response and the evacuation of at least 25 passengers.
Baltimore County firefighters were called shortly after 6 p.m. to the area of Canberra Drive and Waterview Way after receiving reports of a fire aboard a stationary Amtrak train. Train traffic in the area was temporarily halted while emergency crews responded.
Passengers Evacuated After Train Fire
At least 25 passengers were evacuated from the affected train. Emergency responders also treated at least two people for minor injuries, according to preliminary reports.
The available information does not indicate any fatalities. Officials had not yet released a detailed account of how the fire started or how much damage was sustained by the train.
The incident occurred along a heavily traveled rail corridor serving Baltimore and other cities in the Northeast. As emergency crews worked at the scene, other rail passengers reported being delayed or held at Baltimore-area stations.
Investigation and Service Disruptions
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet provided a complete timeline for the emergency response or announced when all rail operations would return to their normal schedules.
The temporary suspension of train traffic demonstrates how an incident involving a single passenger train can affect other services using the same rail corridor.
Passengers traveling through the Baltimore area should check their individual train status before departure because schedules may change as officials complete their response and railway operations resume.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident | Amtrak train car fire |
| Date | September 24, 2026 |
| Location | Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland |
| Reported area | Canberra Drive and Waterview Way |
| Passengers evacuated | At least 25 |
| Injuries | At least 2 minor injuries |
| Fatalities | None reported in latest information |
| Train status | Stationary during emergency response |
| Rail traffic | Temporarily stopped in the area |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Damage assessment | Not fully released |
Accuracy note: The evacuation, injuries and temporary interruption of train traffic have been reported by local authorities and news outlets. The precise cause of the fire, extent of train damage and complete service-restoration timeline had not been established in the latest available reports.