Last night I got home from work late, at 7:45 (I usually get home at around 6:15), because of a delay on the El from a fire that broke out on a train further north. When I got home, curious what exactly had happened, I thought that I had found my answer--

CHICAGO -- A fire was reported Wednesday afternoon on a Purple line train at 1600 North Burling.

The fire was reported in the rear car of the train. NBC5's Phil Rogers reported that the rear wheels on the train's last car caught fire, and the flames spread to the tracks.The fire was quickly put out, but power was subsequently shut off on the line between the Sedgewick and Fullerton stations. The train was removed from the area, and passengers were bussed between the Merchandise Mart and Belmont stations.

--until I realized that the story was dated August 3, 2005. Which makes me wonder: how often does this happen?