Meadowlands wildfires suspend NJ Transit service, close several Turnpike lanes

UPDATE: All lanes on the New Jersey Turnpike were reopened for the afternoon commute following delays caused by the earlier brush fires in the area. Traffic continues to be sluggish north of Newark Airport along the eastern and western.

Services also has been restored to PATH with 30-minute delays.

EARLIER: Brush fires in the Meadowlands affected traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike and forced NJ Transit to suspend some service Tuesday afternoon.

With a Red Flag Warning in effect for a high risk of wildfires, separate fires were burning in Secaucus and Kearny Tuesday afternoon, pushing plumes of thick black smoke into the air that can be seen from Manhattan. The Kearny Fire Department posted on its Facebook page that the fire started near the tracks on Harrison Avenue near the railroad tracks.

ABC 7 reported the fires burned at least 150 acres burned in both fires,

NJ Transit and Amtrak resumed service on the Northeast Corridor around 3 p.m. with 60 minute delays for NJ Transit. Flames were near the track. Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz said Amtrak trains were being held at Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station.

PATH was cross honoring NJ Transit rail tickets and passes at Newark Penn, Hoboken, &and NY 33rd St stations.

The Main/Bergen line between Kingsland and Hoboken, and Rutherford and Hoboken was temporarily suspended due to the fire but resumed service with 30 minute delays. MidTowns Direct trains were being diverted to Hoboken.

Traffic on the northbound eastern spur of the Turnpike were being squeezed into just the left lane near the Secaucus train station as firefighters were positioned in the lanes to put out the flames.