A small electrical fire in the underground trolley system connecting the U.S. Capitol buildings to the Rayburn House Office Building prompted emergency response on Thursday, leaving two police officers hospitalized for evaluation.
According to the D.C. Fire and EMS Department, the blaze began on top of one of the Capitol’s underground trolleys and was quickly extinguished by responding crews. Officials confirmed that no passengers aboard the trolley were injured, though it remains unclear who was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.
Two U.S. Capitol Police officers were taken to the hospital as a precaution after being exposed to smoke during the response. By 6:25 p.m. local time, fire crews had cleared the smoke and secured the scene.
The incident briefly disrupted traffic as the Metropolitan Police Department shut down Independence Avenue in both directions between Washington Avenue SW and Second Street SE. The road was later reopened after the area was declared safe.
Authorities have not yet released the cause of the electrical malfunction.
The underground Capitol trolley system—commonly used by lawmakers, congressional staff, and visiting dignitaries—serves as a secure and convenient transit link between key government buildings. The temporary shutdown raised concerns about safety protocols but operations are expected to resume once a full assessment is completed.
Discover more from Scoop Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
