May 30th, 2010
02:46 PM ET

Washington train station evacuated

Authorities evacuated Union Station, the main train terminal in Washington, D.C., on Sunday afternoon due to a chemical odor from an equipment closet, according to a spokesman for the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

The odor, described as smelling like sulfur or natural gas, was believed to come from an area where batteries and other equipment is stored, said fire department spokesman Peter Piringer.

A hazardous materials response team was on the scene, Piringer said. No injuries were reported, but authorities decided to evacuate the entire station as a precaution.

An Amtrak spokesman said all rail traffic in and out of the station was temporarily suspended due to the evacuation.  Subway service continued to operate, but trains were not stopping at Union Station, according to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority.
Filed under: Uncategorized
soundoff (96 Responses)
  1. The Dude

    Maybe Rush "The Leader of the Republican Party" Limbaugh took a GIANT SH1T on the floor of the station! Maybe John Boener was TEABAGGING Rand Paul and blew all his NUTT out his nose......I bet that smells pretty bad too. Maybe Sarah Palin forgot to DOOSH!.....These things happen you know.....oh yes they do!! Oh yeah!!

    May 30, 2010 at 6:27 pm | Report abuse |
  2. J.C

    Very sad what has became of America...someone just made a comment and people start fighting here and calling each other names..after all is not that what the enemy wants???..get some rest and cool down.

    May 30, 2010 at 6:30 pm | Report abuse |
  3. nellers

    The article, as many of you pointed out, said nothing about terrorism, and yes, it's to our detriment to yell "FIRE" in a crowded movie theater. Even implying that this is linked to terrorism is dangerous (boy who cried wolf syndrome, anyone?) That said, what happened to civility? How hard would it be for someone on the outside to attack us when we are already attacking each other?

    May 30, 2010 at 6:33 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Shane

    When I see Wahington train station evacuated I figure it is Washington State on the west coast, not D.C. thats just a district. Drop the washington, it's district of columbia. Figure it out!

    May 30, 2010 at 6:48 pm | Report abuse |
  5. New Yorker

    Fantastic paying attention DC! Someone was paying attention in NY and it paid off. It's not being paranoid.
    It's called being SAFE! Always follow your intuition, and you will be protected by it.

    May 30, 2010 at 6:59 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Travis

    A chemical smell from a closet thats purpose is to contain chemicals? Really?

    May 30, 2010 at 7:10 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Mryosemite

    Amtrak says service has resumed at Washington's Union Station following an evacuation prompted by fumes from a malfunctioning battery backup system per ABC News.

    May 30, 2010 at 7:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mryosemite

      The "terrorist" the Chemistry 101".

      May 30, 2010 at 7:27 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Jerry

    Next thing you know, flaming bags of doggy-doo on front porches will be treated as terrorist incidents........

    May 30, 2010 at 7:37 pm | Report abuse |
  9. phillip Marlowe

    someone is scared of their own shadow

    May 30, 2010 at 7:46 pm | Report abuse |
  10. yasama your mama

    be afraid.... be very afraid.

    May 30, 2010 at 7:54 pm | Report abuse |
  11. yosama is your mama

    it smells like ass in here. evacuate.

    May 30, 2010 at 7:57 pm | Report abuse |
  12. yosama be my daddy

    teabagging on a sunday afternoon. yummy

    May 30, 2010 at 7:58 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Ani

    No terrorism, just some flatulence on the part of some DC bigwigs....

    May 30, 2010 at 7:58 pm | Report abuse |
  14. tished from the tolilet

    it smells really funny up in here. wow, having trouble getting my breathe now. help.

    May 30, 2010 at 7:59 pm | Report abuse |
  15. turds floating

    they called in the bomb squad to flush the terlit.

    May 30, 2010 at 8:00 pm | Report abuse |
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