Boston-Area Commuters Jump Out Windows After Train Catches Fire
A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Orange Line train caught fire as it approached Somerville, Massachusetts, on the morning of July 21.
This video by Vladi Ramos captures the moment when flames and smoke flare up outside the train windows, as loud noises send passengers looking for an exit. People can later be seen in the video climbing out of shattered windows onto the train tracks.
According to The Boston Globe, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo confirmed the incident, saying in a statement, “Assisted by MBTA personnel, approximately 200 passengers were walked off the train, but some people did evacuate through windows in the first car.” He also added that “No injuries were reported.”
Boston 25 News reported that the MBTA released a statement saying, "Smoke was observed on the head car of a southbound train approaching Assembly Station. Power was turned off between Wellington and Assembly and the Somerville Fire Department responded.” Credit: Vladi Ramos via Storyful
Video Transcript
- Oh, [AUDIO OUT]
- Oh, my gosh.
VLADI RAMOS: Everybody, get out. Get out. Be careful.
- Hold on. Hold on. Go, go. Go, go.
VLADI RAMOS: Go.
- Hold up. No, wait. Stay, stay, stay.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
VLADI RAMOS: No, we have to get out. We have to get out.
- Go. Go in there.
- Go.
- Holy [AUDIO OUT]
- Yo, excuse me. Go.
VLADI RAMOS: Go, go, go go.
- Sancho--
- Get out. Get out.
VLADI RAMOS: Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
- Go.
- Out of here.
- Go. What's up? Be careful, all right?
- Holy [AUDIO OUT]
- Central, code 1. Everybody's got to get out.
- I'm good.
- Central, you copy me?
VLADI RAMOS: Is there a way you can open this door?
- Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Wait, wait.
VLADI RAMOS: Wait.
- Let me open it.
VLADI RAMOS: Wait.
- Hold on. Hold on.
VLADI RAMOS: Holy [AUDIO OUT]
- I'm a firefighter. [INAUDIBLE]
- But I'm scared.
- Ma'am, ma'am, just wait.
- We're all good. We're all good. We're all good. Everybody, we're good. We're good.
- Can you guys, people, get my bag?
- It's called a fire.
VLADI RAMOS: Let me get out. Let me get out. Excuse me. I'm going out. I want to get out.
- OK.
VLADI RAMOS: Dude, can you hold my bag?
- Yeah.
- You want to get out or no?
VLADI RAMOS: Holy [AUDIO OUT]
- Yo, whose stuff is this?
- You guys, step right there. Perfect.
VLADI RAMOS: Careful with the--
- OK, keep going. I'm gonna lift this-- You got it?
VLADI RAMOS: Holy [AUDIO OUT] That was right in front of me.
- You OK?
VLADI RAMOS: Yeah.
- You all right? Where can we go? Oh, my god.
- Hey, Chloe.
VLADI RAMOS: Holy [AUDIO OUT] That was right in front of me.
[TRAIN HORN SOUNDING]
Holy [AUDIO OUT]
- Guys, keep going to the end. Keep going to the end.
- --caught on fire.
- How am I going to get to work?
