• An Orange Line train catches fire approaching a station in Somerville.
• One person ends up in the Mystic River and is saved by firefighters.
• MBTA shuttles are put into service for passengers affected by the blaze.

An Orange Line train caught fire as it approached a stop in Somerville on Thursday morning; causing several passengers to leap out windows to escape the smoke. One passenger even ends up in the Mystic River and needed rescuing by firemen. According to the authorities, a total of 200 people were evacuated.

After the Orange Line train caught fire as it approached a stop in Somerville on Thursday morning; shuttle buses were placed into operation and MBTA customers endured delays, according to officials.

According the MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo, fire and smoke were seen on the head car of a southbound train; as it approached Assembly station in Somerville at around 6:45 a.m.

Pesaturo wrote in an email, “Power was cut between Wellington and Assembly and the Somerville; and Medford Fire Departments responded.”

No injuries were recorded, he added, and all passengers disembarked the train.

Bus shuttles are set up to run between Oak Grove and Community College, according to Pesaturo.
The message said, “People jumping out windows – fortunately no one struck third rail.”

One individual dives into the water and was saved; according to a tweet from the union for Somerville firefighters.

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The union stated: “Our Marine unit and @MedfordMAFire marine unit aided one passenger who plunged into the ocean.”

One passenger jumped into the water and was assisted by our Marine unit along with @MedfordMAFire marine unit. https://t.co/Kkj1VEnHk2

— Somervillefdlocal76 (@somfdlocal76) July 21, 2022

An adult female found in the water, a State Police official named David Procopio stated in an email. “One of our Marine Unit boats arrived to the site. When they got to her, she denied help and swam ashore by herself”.

The Haverhill Line trains were picking up the slack to accommodate customers affected by the fire; the Commuter Rail tweeted at 8:20 a.m.

Until further notice, all Haverhill Line trains will make additional stops at Oak Grove station; to accommodate Orange Line customers, according to the rail.

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