Bus fire blankets part of Downtown DC in dark plume of smoke
WTOP • • nation
Key Points:
- A Metrobus caught fire around 7 p.m. Thursday in the 9th Street Tunnel in Downtown D.C., producing heavy black smoke visible over the area; the bus driver was unharmed and no passengers were on board at the time.
- The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Metro has removed all 32 hybrid diesel buses from service for inspection as a precautionary measure.
- The 9th Street Tunnel and 9th Street Expressway between Constitution Avenue NW and Interstate 395 were closed as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, with operations described as challenging due to tunnel conditions.
- Metro is coordinating with the bus manufacturer and developing plans to minimize service disruptions caused by the bus fleet inspection and tunnel closure.
- It is currently unclear when the tunnel will reopen to traffic; updates will be provided as the situation develops.
