Photo by Rolenz.
In light of reports of slow response time from D.C. firefighters in Monday’s smoke incident at the L’Enfant Plaza station, Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a review of how authorities responded.
This morning, City Administrator Rashad Young released the findings from the review ordered by Bowser. Among other things, it confirmed that it took firefighters at least a half an hour to evacuate passengers trapped in the Metro train—a southbound Yellow Line train that stopped a few hundred feet from the L’Enfant Plaza. According to the timeline released by Young’s office, the first call reporting a “debris fire” came at 3:14 p.m., though it was reported on the tracks of the Gallery Place station.
At 3:24 p.m., a Metro Transit Official “[called] requesting medics and fire units at L’Enfant Plaza Station for smoke in the station and reported citizens in the station could barely breathe.” By 3:45 p.m., a female caller stuck on the train called “asking if help is on the way because the train is filling with smoke.” That was the last of multiple calls asking “if help was on the way” according to the city’s timeline.
By 4:12 p.m., a medic on the radio advised that he’s a block away from L’Enfant Plaza and will respond, but another medic says he’s closer. Finally, by 4:27 p.m., a medic reports that 27 people are currently being transported to area hospital, while CPR on a victim—presumably 61-year-old Carol Glover, who died as a result of the incident—was still in progress.
Here’s the full timeline, released by the city:
3:14 Metro Rail’s Unit 22 called to report a debris fire on the tracks at Gallery Place Station, upper and lower levels
3:19 Engine 02 Unit Dispatched to 7th St NW/H St NW (Gallery Place Metro)
3:18 A caller from a construction site reported smoke coming out of the Metro tunnel at 9th and Water St SW
3:22 Metro Rail’s Unit 22 called to advise of heavy smoke at L’Enfant Plaza Metro upper level
3:22 Engine 02 Arrived at 7th St NW/H St NW (Gallery Place Metro)
3:24 Metro Transit Official called requesting medics and fire units at L’Enfant Plaza Station for smoke in the station and reported citizens in the station could barely breathe
3:25 FEMS units arrived at 9th St SW/Water St SW scene where there was an odor of smoke but no flames were seen
3:27 A caller at the entrance of L’Enfant station requested an ambulance
3:28 Metro box alarm was dispatched to 7th & D St SW; EMA is notified
3:31 Rescue 1 arrives (1st unit) at 7th and D St SW L’Enfant Station; MPD is dispatched
3:32 MPD unit 1D 1011 arrives
3:32 A caller at the entrance of L’Enfant station requested an ambulance
3:33 A caller on the yellow line, in the tunnel stated the train was filled with smoke
3:33 A caller said he was “at or on” the Pentagon train and was transferred to Arlington 911 Center. The OUC call taker remained on the line and updated CAD which reflected this call
3:35 Engine 02 Unit cleared Gallery Place Metro and dispatched to L’Enfant Plaza
3:39 A caller on the train advised that it was filling with smoke.
3:42 A caller from a street location of 7th and E Street SW reported his wife was having difficulty breathing after she exited L’Enfant Station
3:42 Repeat caller from 3:33 – made inquiry “if help is on the way” the caller provided the train number 3031. He was transferred to the Metro Transit Official who told him not to leave the train because the tracks were still live
3:43 A caller advised he was stuck on the train and it was filling with smoke
3:44 BFC advises that WMATA confirms that power is shut down; there is a train with people trapped
3:45 A male caller asked “if help is on the way because the train is filling with smoke”
3:45 A female caller asking if help is on the way because the train is filling with smoke
3:46 A second alarm dispatched
4:09 Battalion Chief 1 advises he is at Operations Command Center and there is a report of a patient having a seizure on the train; squad 1 advises 9th and D; and an adult female is undergoing CPR, requesting a medic
4:12 Medic 14 advises he is a block away from L’enfant plaza and will respond; Medic 6B responds that he is closer, medic 14 cancels the run
4:17 Medic 6B is given the corrected location on channel 0A12, 9th and D St SW
4:19 Command 2 directs all medical units on L’enfant Plaza to switch to 0A5 (tactical channel due to radio traffic)
4:25 Medic 27 transports patient to GW, CPR is still in progress
In all, the review says that there were “13 emergency calls either to 911 or to the Office of Unified Communications supervisor,” and that Fire and EMS units were dispatched to “three different locations based on initial emergency calls.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Bowser said that “our fire department responded within the time frames that are customary,” when pressed about reports of a delayed response time. Additionally, the review’s timeline confirms that there was communication problems with firefighters and EMS technicians’ radio.
Young says that “additional information” about Monday’s incident will be released in the next few days.
