Smoldering Metro Track Tie Causes Delays

Update — The Alexandria Fire Department extinguished the rail bed fires shortly before midnight. One engine remained on the scene until Metro arrived with water to saturate the area.

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The Alexandria Fire Department assisted the Metro Transit Police in cooling off a smoldering Metrorail track tie just north of Braddock Road Metro station on Friday night.

A spokesperson with the Alexandria Fire Department told Patch two engines responded to the issue. Firefighters experienced trouble reaching the scene of the blaze because of the fence around the tracks.

Metro was planning on sending a train through to pour some water on the smoldering tie, the spokesperson said.

The fire appeared to be affecting the west side of the tracks. Alexandria Fire Department vehicles were on both sides, in Potomac Yard and in Potomac Greens. 

One Potomac Greens resident said he saw firefighters climb over the fence to reach the tracks.

As of 11 p.m., trains were single-tracking between Pentagon City and Braddock Road stations, causing delays in both directions.

Reports of the issue and delays began around 9:15 p.m.