Commuter alert: Small fire at Suburban Station concourse snarls traffic

A small electrical fire that possibly started in a retail store in the concourse of busy Suburban Station helped snarl traffic in the area around 16th and John F. Kennedy Boulevard this morning.

Philadelphia fire dispatch confirmed the fire, which was reported shortly after 10 a.m. in the undeground station and was quickly brought under control.  Stores line the concourse connecting the stations.

Responding fire crews running water hoses effectively shut down 16th Street. That helped cause traffic gridlock in the busy Center City area.  The scene started to clear by 11 a.m.

Andrew Bush, a SEPTA spokesman, said there were no reports of injuries or disruption to service. The fire apparently started at CeCe Boutique, which sells shoes, purses and accessories.

Check back for details as they develop.