NEW YORK (AP) _ Dozens of people were treated for smoke inhalation early Saturday after a fire broke out beneath a subway train in Brooklyn, authorities said.
The train was at the York Street station when the blaze erupted about 3:15 a.m., said Charles Seaton, a spokesman for New York City Transit. He said about 100 people were evacuated from the station.
The fire began when a ``shoe'' _ a piece of equipment that connects with the electrified third rail _ came loose and started sparking as the train moved along, fire department spokesman Sean Johnson said.
Ed Gonzales, 40, who lives nearby, said he saw people with soot on their arms and legs choking and coughing as they came out of an emergency hatch in the ground.
``They were scrambling to get out,'' said Gonzales. ``Everybody was running to get air.''
No one was seriously injured, but 65 people were taken to local hospitals, all for smoke inhalation, according to Robert Calise, a Fire Department spokesman. Thirty-five others were treated at the scene, he said.
