Chicago subway riders evacuated

Chicago subway riders evacuated
Dozens of people on street, some on stretchers due to smoke

Blue Line Riders Evacuated In Loop
NOW Live: Passengers Evacuating For CTA Train Fire

CHICAGO A fire underground on CTA subway tracks has forced Blue Line riders to evacuate underground tunnels.

CBS 2's Kris Habermehl reports a mass casualty incident – more patients than rescuers – is underway in Chicago. Emergency personnel are responding from all parts of the city.

A police News Affairs spokeswoman said firefighters first responded to a call for smoke coming from a CTA train about 5:08 p.m. in the 200 block of North Clark.

Officials confirm a fire and say there are no reports of an explosion.

Chopper 2 was overhead at Clinton and Fulton in the near West Loop as Blue Line riders were being evacuated from the underground tunnels and coming out of a street-level hatch. It was one of several locations where people were being evacuated from dark and smoke-filled conditions.

Approximately 20 ambulances have been dispatched to Clinton and Fulton.

It is not known how many people may have been injured. Emergency personnell are stationed at Clinton and Fulton, Grand and Milwaukee, Kinzie and Milwuakee, LaSalle and Lake, and Lake and Clark.

Many riders emerged from the tunnels with apparent respiratory distress and soot and dirt staining their clothing. Oxygen tanks are on the scene to help those suffering from apparent smoke inhalation.

Dozens of people are on the street. Some are on stretchers while others are on stair chairs and being taken for treatment.

Passenger Christopher Smith painted a terrifying picture of what happened in the subway.

"It seemed like the back of the train derailed. I was in the fourth car I was standing against the doors. It sounded like trains were falling and collapsing in the back," Smith said.

Smith said people from cars further back ran up to his car and were pounding on the windows to get into his car. Smith said passengers got the doors open and let them in.

"It was very close to being very chaotic," he said.

Eventually, the passengers made their way out.

"No direction at all from the CTA. No announcements on the train. None. We were on our own. People didn't know which way to go," Smith said.

Many people were telling people to stay clam, Smith said, and helping the elderly out of the train.

Blue Line service between the Damen and Washington stations have been suspended as of 5:25 p.m., according to the Chicago Transit Authority's Web site.

That Chicago Transit rail line connects downtown to O'Hare International Airport.