The Eastern Market Metro station was temporarily evacuated and riders faced disruptions on a portion of the Blue, Orange and Silver Line after it appears someone set fire to a train seat Friday morning.
No riders were injured, but the train operator who put out the fire was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, Metro said.
“Around 9:30 a.m. a train operator reported a fire on board the train, after someone set fire to a seat,” Metro spokeswoman Sherry Ly told WTOP in an email.
The train operator quickly put out the fire, but the train was off-loaded because of the smoke and the station was temporarily evacuated, she said.
Trains on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines were single-tracking between Federal Center Southwest and Stadium-Armory and bypassing Eastern Market station for about two hours Friday morning.
Metro said train service had been restored at the station by about 11:30 a.m., but that riders should expect some residual delays.
New Metro General Manager Randy Clarke tweeted his apologies to Metro riders and said he, too, was stuck on a train after service was disrupted.
Sorry for this morning’s service impacts everyone. I’ve been stuck on a train as well. Talking w/ customer Antione who is also impacted. Earlier reports or a seat on fire on a train at Eastern Market. We are moving. We will update w/ more info after an investigation occurs. https://t.co/Qz1O1dt4qH pic.twitter.com/AvCfPFp3pO
— Randy Clarke 🚌🚊🚍 (@wmataGM) September 9, 2022
Metro Transit Police are treating the train that was set on fire as a crime scene, and the train remains on the track at the Eastern Market station. No word yet on a suspect in the fire.
WTOP’s John Aaron, reporting live from outside the Eastern Market station, said there was a large police and fire response.
Metro riders earlier shared photos on Twitter of smoke inside the Eastern Market station.
Is the metro on fire? https://t.co/zyoVqieV3m Literally, literally yes at eastern market right now… pic.twitter.com/ck71yMEji9
— Patrick H Cox (@phc_phd) September 9, 2022
WTOP’s Lauren Hamilton contributed to this report.
