WASHINGTON DC NEWS – Metro’s hybrid bus catches fire under the National Mall tunnel; other buses taken out of service

By Renae Hefty

A Metro bus caught fire in the 9th Street tunnel under the National Mall on Thursday evening and the smoke could be seen over downtown Washington, D.C. There were no passengers on the bus and the driver safely escaped the flames. No injuries were reported. Several cars were trapped inside the tunnel, while firefighters put out the fire.  They were later able to exit the tunnel safely.

The smoke over the city dissipated by 8 p.m. on Thursday. DC Department of Public Works crews cleaned up the tunnel by Friday morning. The 9th Street tunnel between Interstate 395 and Constitution Avenue NW were closed. WMATA is taking all 32 of its hybrid diesel buses out of service while the cause of the fire is investigated. The cause is believed to be mechanical. 125 service members responded to the fire. Firefighters had to pull about 900 feet of hose into the tunnel to reach the bus that was engulfed in flames.