Massive fire at garbage facility disrupts LIRR service

NEW YORK - Firefighters continued to put out hotspots of a five-alarm fire at a garbage facility on Grand Boulevard in Westbury, Long Island. Service had been impacted on the Long Island Rail Road but was back to normal by 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

The fire which damaged train tracks broke out Wednesday at about 9 p.m. Approximately 60 fire departments responded with many remaining on the scene hours later. The flames were brought under control at about 2 a.m., according to fire officials.

There were no injuries reported.

Service was suspended east of Mineola which included a service suspension of the Ronkonkoma branch.  The first westbound trains to operate would be the 8:31 AM train from Ronkonkoma due Penn at 9:56 AM, the 8:36 AM train from Port Jefferson due to Hicksville at 9:46 AM and the 8:55 AM train from Huntington due to Penn at 10:05AM.

Commuters were advised to use the Montauk and Babylon branches as alternates. Service was also reduced between Mineola and New Hyde Park.

The fire was not deemed to be suspicious. Officials said household garbage and recyclables caught fire at the Jamaica Ash & Rubbish Removal Company. It was not clear what sparked the inferno.