Metro Now Believes Power Surge Caused Smoke and Fire Problems

Last night, Metro said it was looking at most of the 8 reports of smoke and fire in the subway system as separate incidents. Now, Metro believes almost all are connected to a possible power surge in Northern Virginia.

Starting at 5:45 Sunday evening, the calls brought fire trucks to Metro facilities in D.C. and Virginia. Delays occurred on all 5 rail lines because of the problems. Metro says that has never happened before.

In a press release this afternoon, Metro says it is working with Virginia Power “looking into the possibility that a sudden surge in electricity in Northern Virginia” may be behind all but one of the calls.

Metro thinks the surge could have sparked a small fire on a track at Huntington, at Farragut North and in an equipment room at the Reagan National Airport Metro station. They also believe it disabled a train that then had brakes lock up while being pulled by another train. That caused smoke on the Orange and Blue lines between Rosslyn and Farragut West.

No one was injured and the investigation continues.