WASHINGTON — Power was restored to a subway rail and train traffic resumed during a fire incident before firefighters gave the all clear Friday.
WUSA9 reported that no firefighters were on the Foggy Bottom Metro Station tracks and no one was injured, but crews say it’s the sort of minor incident that could turn deadly with bad communication. D.C. Fire quickly got the smoke situation under control, but their work wasn’t done. Communication between Metro’s Operations Control Center (OCC) and firefighters on the ground got unclear.
In the radio traffic, you can hear one of the firefighters communicating that he thought the power was off and realizes it’s been turned on.
Metro Ops: “Copy, just to confirm you are reporting all equipment and personnel are off the track bed at this time.”
Metro Safety: “Affirmative.”
Firefighters were still cleaning off debris when the re-energized third rail took them by surprise.
Firefighter: “So we are keeping the power to the lights down, however, third rail power has been restored and train movement has commenced on track 2!”
Ed Smith, IAFF local 36 president, expressed his concern after the incident.
“I’m just shocked, my jaw hits the floor that there is another breakdown of communication, and given the right circumstances, that could of seriously injure or kill firefighters operating in that track bed,” Smith said.
Fire and metro officials began discussing the situation on the platform and then continued the conversation outside.
Firefighter: “Chief, Metro personnel down here is advising that he got the call from OCC and power was restored at OCC.”
Chief: “I’d like you to find out who authorized putting third rail power back up allowing train movement to go back on track 2 without our approval.”
Metro said they are investigating further.