The Metropolitan Transit Authority says debris on the track may have been the cause of a fire underneath a train during the morning rush.

Jessica Forres reports...



Shortly before 7am, an outbound, redline train caught on fire before arriving at the Friendship Heights Metro Station.

John Alston...passing out the Express newspaper...describes what he saw...

SEVERAL PEOPLE CAME UP THE STEPS. THERE WERE EIGHT FIRE TRUCKS UP AND DOWN WISCONSIN AVENUE.

Steven Taubenkibble with Metro says two people were taken to the hospital, the train operator complaining of asthma symptoms and a passenger with chest pains.

Officials believe a piece of debris on the track, such as a newspaper, caused the fire, he says...

WE BELIEVE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FROM THE TRAIN MAY HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH SOMETHING ELSE ON THE TRACK

The incident closed the metro station, delaying trains during the morning rush. Nichele Rhonn is a passenger...

I'M JUST A LITTLE PISSED BUT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COME TO GRIPS WITH WHEN YOU DECIDE TO RIDE THE METRO THAT IT'S PRETTY MUCH GOING TO ALWAYS BE LATE.

But will the million's of people expected to visit during the inauguration be as forgiving as Rhonn? Spokesperson Taubenkibble...

HOPEFULLY IT WON'T HAPPEN. INAUGURATION DAY ALL OUR PERSONNEL WILL BE WORKING AND HOPEFULlY IF AN INCIDENT LIKE THAT DOES HAPPEN THEN WE WILL TRY TO WORK AS QUICKLY WE CAN TO REMIDIATE THE SITUATION BUT THAT IS THE TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE IN.

Meanwhile, Metro officials are still investigating an incident earlier this week when an escalator at the Gallery Place station malfunctioned, suddenly going backward and sending two people to the hospital.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News