Small trash fire near tracks in Westbury delays trains

A small rubbish fire on the tracks near the Wantagh Parkway in Westbury delayed two westbound Long Island Rail Road trains Tuesday, fire and railroad officials said.

The fire was reported on the tracks near Prospect Avenue and the parkway not long after noon, officials said.

The 12:04 p.m. train from Huntington to Penn Station was held at Hicksville at 12:22 p.m., railroad spokesman Rich Mendelson said.

The 12:09 p.m. train from Ronkonkoma, due in Penn Station at 1:29 p.m., was held at Bethpage, Mendelson said. He said the Ronkonkoma train was operating 15 to 20 minutes late, while the Huntington train was about 40 minutes late.

The fire was extinguished and the tracks put back in service just before 1 p.m.