A fire broke out in the US Capitol’s underground trolley system on Thursday evening, filling the passage beneath the Rayburn House Office Building with smoke and prompting an immediate emergency response. The system forms part of the Capitol’s internal subway network, used daily by lawmakers, staff and official visitors to move between major government buildings without stepping outside.
Fire crews from DC Fire and EMS were dispatched after reports of smoke in the tunnel. Firefighters located a small electrical fire on top of one of the trolleys and extinguished it within minutes. While all passengers aboard the trolley escaped unharmed, two US Capitol Police officers were taken to the hospital for precautionary evaluation after exposure to the smoke.
The incident led to the temporary closure of Independence Avenue in both directions between Washington Avenue SW and Second Street SE, allowing emergency teams to ventilate the area and secure the site. Officials reopened the road after confirming that the smoke had cleared and the fire was fully contained.
Investigators have not yet determined what caused the electrical malfunction. The affected trolley line, operated by the Architect of the Capitol, has been in continuous service since the 1960s, making it the oldest of the three rail connections that move personnel beneath the Capitol campus.
