Traffic through downtown Washington turned chaotic Thursday evening when a Metrobus burst into flames inside the 9th Street Tunnel, sending a thick column of black smoke over the city and forcing a rapid evacuation of drivers and bystanders. Fire crews raced into the tunnel as the blaze grew and heavy smoke poured into the sky, and officials quickly shut the route down while warning motorists to brace for major delays across the area.
The fire broke out around 7 p.m. inside the 9th Street Tunnel, a key downtown connector to the 9th Street Expressway, according to WTOP. The outlet reports that the driver escaped without injury and that no passengers were on board when the bus caught fire.
Fire response and evacuation
DC Fire and EMS described the burning bus as “well involved” while crews moved to knock down the flames and verify that everyone had been cleared from the tunnel, FOX 5 DC reported. Firefighters also worked to get civilians out of vehicles trapped behind the incident, as witnesses shared images of a massive smoke plume near the tunnel entrance, according to Daily Voice.
Traffic impacts downtown
The 9th Street Tunnel and the 9th Street Expressway between Constitution Avenue NW and Interstate 395 were closed while crews battled the fire, triggering detours and heavy backups across nearby routes, WTOP reported. Drivers were urged to avoid the corridor and prepare for significant delays while emergency operations continued.
What Metro said
Metro officials said the bus operator got out safely and that the agency was “fully responding to this incident,” while also publicly thanking D.C. Fire and EMS for its swift work, according to Daily Voice. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and fire investigators along with Metro safety teams are expected to lead the probe.
Investigation and next steps
Officials said firefighters would fully extinguish the flames and secure the tunnel before tow and inspection crews move in to remove the bus. The length of the closure will depend on the extent of the damage and what investigators need to complete their work, FOX 5 DC reported. We will update with official findings and images as agencies release them.
