A reader reports around 10:30am:
“Steve Madden in Georgetown at 3109 M Street, NW is on fire. Heavy fire equipment response.”
@dcfireems tweeted:
“Final Update: Fire is knocked down. No extension. No injuries. Units returning to service. #dctraffic”
dcfd
Around sends just after 8am (after calling 911). Haven’t seen any reports from DCFD yet. Updates when/if available.
From @dcfireems:
“UPDATE: Metro Box Alarm: Dupont Circle Sta. no fire. station evacuated to clear smoke.”
Another reader sends via email:
“Not sure what’s up but DCFD is on scene and station was smoke filled”
Updates when more is known.
@petehammerle tweet us:
“it really did not look bad. You could smell some smoke but it smelled like most metro stations. No one seemed concerned”
@Metrorailinfo tweets:
“Red Line: Expect residual delays in both directions due to earlier fire department investigation at Dupont Circle.”
@dcfireems tweets:
“UPDATE: Metro Box Alarm: Dupont Cir Sta. station to reopen shortly.”
2609 24th Street, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending these devastating photos Saturday morning from a fire in the former Murphy’s/future Bar Civita [“A modern American and Italian influenced restaurant in historic Woodley Park in Washington, D.C.“]. I’ve sent an email to the Bar Civita folks and will update when I hear back. Hopefully it won’t push the planned opening too far back.
Good update from owner Liam Civita:
“It is definitely an unfortunate setback, but it is only a setback. It will delay opening but not by much, as a majority of the damage was on the patio which we were replacing anyways in a couple of weeks. The fire department did a tremendous job in controlling and putting out the fire.”
A reader sends from Georgia and Taylor St, NW just after 10am.
“From: Rashad Young, City Administrator
To: Members of the Public and Media
Re: Preliminary Readout of Emergency Calls and Dispatch Times for WMATA Incident
Date: Thursday, January 15th
From Following the incident at WMATA, Mayor Bowser has ordered a review of the response to the event, to be conducted in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) ongoing investigation into the causes of the smoke incident and prevention of any such events. On Tuesday, Mayor Bowser also designated me the District government’s lead official to review the incident response and assist the NTSB in any way possible.
The Administration will continue to investigate many aspects of the incident, including, but not limited to response time and communications. Below please find a preliminary timeline as to the early sequence of events, which, notably, involved not one but three metro stations.
There were initially 13 emergency calls either to 911 or to the Office of Unified Communications supervisor. Fire and EMS units were dispatched to three different locations based on initial emergency calls.
3:14 Metro Rail’s Unit 22 called to report a debris fire on the tracks at Gallery Place Station, upper and lower levels
3:19 Engine 02 Unit Dispatched to 7th St NW/H St NW (Gallery Place Metro)
3:18 A caller from a construction site reported smoke coming out of the Metro tunnel at 9th and Water St SW
3:22 Metro Rail’s Unit 22 called to advise of heavy smoke at L’Enfant Plaza Metro upper level
3:22 Engine 02 Arrived at 7th St NW/H St NW (Gallery Place Metro)
3:24 Metro Transit Official called requesting medics and fire units at L’Enfant Plaza Station for smoke in the station and reported citizens in the station could barely breathe
3:25 FEMS units arrived at 9th St SW/Water St SW scene where there was an odor of smoke but no flames were seen
3:27 A caller at the entrance of L’Enfant station requested an ambulance
3:28 Metro box alarm was dispatched to 7th & D St SW; EMA is notified
3:31 Rescue 1 arrives (1st unit) at 7th and D St SW L’Enfant Station; MPD is dispatched
3:32 MPD unit 1D 1011 arrives
3:32 A caller at the entrance of L’Enfant station requested an ambulance
3:33 A caller on the yellow line, in the tunnel stated the train was filled with smoke
3:33 A caller said he was “at or on” the Pentagon train and was transferred to Arlington 911 Center. The OUC call taker remained on the line and updated CAD which reflected this call
3:35 Engine 02 Unit cleared Gallery Place Metro and dispatched to L’Enfant Plaza
3:39 A caller on the train advised that it was filling with smoke.
3:42 A caller from a street location of 7th and E Street SW reported his wife was having difficulty breathing after she exited L’Enfant Station
3:42 Repeat caller from 3:33 – made inquiry “if help is on the way” the caller provided the train number 3031. He was transferred to the Metro Transit Official who told him not to leave the train because the tracks were still live
3:43 A caller advised he was stuck on the train and it was filling with smoke
3:44 BFC advises that WMATA confirms that power is shut down; there is a train with people trapped
3:45 A male caller asked “if help is on the way because the train is filling with smoke”
3:45 A female caller asking if help is on the way because the train is filling with smoke
3:46 A second alarm dispatched
4:09 Battalion Chief 1 advises he is at Operations Command Center and there is a report of a patient having a seizure on the train; squad 1 advises 9th and D; and an adult female is undergoing CPR, requesting a medic
4:12 Medic 14 advises he is a block away from L’enfant plaza and will respond; Medic 6B responds that he is closer, medic 14 cancels the run
4:17 Medic 6B is given the corrected location on channel 0A12, 9th and D St SW
4:19 Command 2 directs all medical units on L’enfant Plaza to switch to 0A5 (tactical channel due to radio traffic)
4:25 Medic 27 transports patient to GW, CPR is still in progress
Additional information regarding the incident will be released in the coming days.”
I love the font on these – this one’s from Woodley Park.
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Gallery place crowds forming at 350pm
Reports are l’enfant plaza is closed. Updates when more info is available and I get to a computer.
Mass casualty event declared by dcfd. Hope all are ok. Updates soon.
Update from Metro PD:
“Metro Transit Police and fire department personnel are on scene at L’Enfant Plaza for smoke in the station.
The source of the smoke has not been determined. The station has been evacuated and is temporarily closed at this time.
Metro has activated tunnel fans to ventilate the area.
Service Information:
• Green Line service is SUSPENDED between Navy Yard and Mt Vernon Square.
• Yellow Line service is SUSPENDED between Pentagon City and Mt Vernon Square.
• Blue/Orange/Silver line trains are BYPASSING L’Enfant Plaza (passing through the station without stopping).
• L’Enfant Plaza is closed.
• Riders should consider alternate travel options. To view bus options, use Metro’s trip planner and select the “bus only” option. Expect significant delays.”
Update from @IAFF36:
“Mass Casualty” is a term utilized when additional resources are potentially necessary on large scale incidents”
Update from @metrorailinfo:
“Shuttle buses are enroute to L’Enfant Plaza & Navy Yard. 4:16p”
Update from @dcfireems:
“Metro Box Alarm Update – Passengers are being removed from disable train inside of tunnel. No injuries have been reported.”
Update from @Metrobusinfo:
“23A,25A,25C: Due to traffic congestion, buses are delayed up to 15 minutes in both directions.
32,34,36,39: Due to traffic congestion downtown, buses are delayed up to 20 minutes in both directions.”
Update 4:40pm from @Metrorailinfo:
“Board Green Line shuttle buses at the following locations – Navy Yard: @ M St & NJ Ave; L’Enfant Plaza: @ 7th & C St”
Update – you can see photos from the smoke filled trains and tunnel here.
Update 4:50pm from @Metrorailinfo:
“Green/Yellow lines: Rail service SUSPENDED btwn Navy Yard/Pentagon City & Mt Vernon Sq. Seek alternate travel options.
L’Enfant Plaza remains closed. FD on scene. Source of smoke remains undetermined. All evacuations completed.”
Update 5:30pm from @dcfireems:
“Update: Metro Box Alarm – 1 pt. transported with serious injuries and 5 pt. transported with minor injuries to area hospitals.”
Update 5:50pm from @DDOTDC:
“Closures: Indep Ave SW btw 7th & 10th St in both directions, 10th street from Indep Ave to D St. SW, D st btw 7th st & 10th St. 7th St DSt.”
From @Metrorailinfo:
“Green/Yellow update: Trains now servicing Gallery Pl for service to/from Greenbelt. Service remains suspended btwn Gallery Pl & Navy Yard”
Update 6pm from @Metrobusinfo:
“H1,H2,H3,H4,H8: Due to traffic congestion near Columbia Rd & 13th St NW, buses are delayed in both directions.”
@Metrorailinfo:
“Green/Yellow lines: Rail service SUSPENDED between Navy Yard/Pentagon & Mt Vernon Sq. Seek alternate travel options. 6:05p”
Update 7:45pm from @dcfireems:
“Metro Box Alarm Update: 84pts. transported to area hospitals with various injuries. Over 200 people evaluated.1 firefighter injured. Update: Injured firefighter was transported to local hospital w/ serious but non-life threatening injuries.”
Washington Post reports:
“One dead, two in critical condition, with many others taken to hospitals.”
@Metrorailinfo:
“L’Enfant Plaza Station remains closed; Green/Yellow service suspended between Gallery Place and Navy Yard & Pentagon City. 7:40p”
@MetroTransitPD:
“Advised @NTSB is launching an investigation into L’Enfant incident. As a result, all info related to investigation will come from NTSB.”
Update 8:14pm from @Metrorailinfo:
“L’Enfant Plaza Station has re-opened for Orange/Silver/Blue line service ONLY. Enter using the 7th & Maryland Av or 7th & D St entrances.
Green/Yellow line service will REMAIN SUSPENDED through end of service day btwn Gallery Place & Navy Yard/Pentagon.”
14th and A Street, SE
A reader reports:
“A house caught fire this morning on 14th and A SE. At least 3 fire engines and 2 ambulances were at the scene. Smoke was billowing out of both the front and back of the house. Several firefighters climbed on top of the house and smashed holes into the roof.
As far as I know, no one was injured, but that is not confirmed.”
@dcfireems tweets:
“Report of House Fire – 1400blk of A St. NW – Units on the scene.
Update: Fire has been extinguished. Units are checking for extension.”
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@lyssjane tweets us just after 3pm:
“That time district 2 caught on fire @PoPville
we were in District 2 and I think it started in the kitchen”
From AlertDC just before 4pm:
“UPDATE: FEMS reports the fire in the 3200 block Wisconsin Ave NW has been put out. The street closures remain in effect. DOH Food Inspector was requested.”
Ed. Note: I hear District 2 may be out of commission until mid-March – stay tuned for a reopening date.
@robintngo tweets us a couple of powerful photos below of DCFD in action:
