3rd Street Tunnel Reopens After Fire Fills It With Smoke: Video

WASHINGTON, DC -- A burning vehicle caused the northbound section of the 3rd Street tunnel to fill with smoke and be closed to traffic for over an hour this morning, according to posts on D.C. Fire and EMS' official Twitter account. No injuries were reported.

On Jan. 27, at approximately 9:50 a.m., D.C. Fire and EMS units responded to the report of a burning vehicle on the northbound ramp to D Street exiting the 3rd Street tunnel. Arriving on the scene, firefighters found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames and smoke was filling the tunnel, according to Vito Maggiolo, D.C. Fire and EMS public information officer.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly, Maggiolo said. They then used large fans to begin the process of removing the smoke from the tunnel.

When the driver of the vehicle realized he was having problems with his car, he attempted to exit the tunnel at D Street. Although the car was on the ramp, police closed the tunnel to traffic while firefighters extinguished the fire and began clearing out the smoke.

The single occupant of the vehicle escaped without injuries and no other injuries were reported.

According to Maggiolo, some of the roof tiles above the vehicle's location had been damaged and the D.C. Department of Transportation was notified.

The northbound section of the 3rd Street tunnel was reopened to traffic around 11:24 a.m., according to a Metropolitan Police Department alert. However, Exit 9 remains closed until further notice.

Update vehicle fire N/B 3rd St tunnel at D St ramp NW. Fire knocked down. No injuries reported. Request additional truck for smoke removal inside tunnel. pic.twitter.com/IegavA2eOS
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 27, 2020

Update vehicle fire N/B 3rd St tunnel on D St ramp. Fire is out. Single occupant escaped uninjured. Smoke has been cleared. #DCsBravest requesting @DDOTDC to check on possible damage to ceiling tiles & lighting. pic.twitter.com/oWcy98qmjQ
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 27, 2020

#DCsBravest on scene of a well involved vehicle in the 3rd St tunnel vicinity of D St NW. Heavy smoke conditions. We are searching the vicinity for any occupants of vehicles who may be in distress.
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 27, 2020