An unfounded report of fire in the Metro Red Line tunnel closed the Bethesda station on Thursday morning for less than five minutes.
MCFRS units responded to the report of fire on the tracks between the Medical Center and Bethesda stations just before 7:30 a.m. and quickly found there was no fire and no smoke.
The tunnel has significant issues with water leaking onto the tracks and is a frequent location of reported smoke or fire issues.
At 7:30 a.m., Metro said the Bethesda station would be temporarily closed to avoid overcrowding. The transit system has put that policy in place because of the ongoing large escalator replacement project which has only two of three escalators open.
Just four minutes later, Metro said the track problem had been “unfounded” and trains would no longer be single tracking.
MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said there was no fire, no smoke and no emergency on the tracks despite the apparent “good intent” of the person who reported it.
