Fire Hits Monorail at Seattle Center; Dozens Evacuated

AP ^ | May 31, 2004

[nuconvert]

Fire Hits Monorail at Seattle Center; Dozens Evacuated

The Associated Press

May 31, 2004

SEATTLE (AP) - A monorail caught fire outside a Seattle museum Monday, forcing firefighters to use ladders to evacuate dozens of passengers. An undetermined number of people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, Seattle television stations reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

The train fire occurred outside the Seattle Center's Experience Music Project, a rock 'n' roll museum. Thousands of people gathered at the center over the holiday weekend for the annual Folklife Festival.

Fire officials said the fire was brought under control Monday evening. Streets were closed in the area.

The monorail runs through the museum on its path between the Seattle Center and downtown.

[steve86]

Check the photo here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145403/posts

[Not A Snowbird]

KOMO preempted the Stanley Cup playoffs to show repetitious footage of the same blue rail car with the same clouds of smoke. Over. And over. All the while droning on, repeating information we already had.

We tried to call KOMO to complain and got a constant busy signal; when I did finally get through I was cut off twice.

Found the game on the Canadian channel, finally. KOMO stayed with this story WAY too long. I'm sure it was scary for all involved, but it was really no big deal.

[BurbankKarl]

How many years did KOMO delay Monday Night Football for an hour until after their newscast? I made a ton of money in college getting final scores from LA.

hahaha

[nuconvert]

I hate when they do that.

[Not A Snowbird]

I mean honestly, it's not like it was a nice, juicy car chase or something!!!

(Can you tell I'm from Southern California?) :-)

[HardStarboard]

Glad no one was hurt! It could have a beneficial effect in finally, finally shutting down the attempt to construct a 14 mile monorail in Seattle at a cost of - I forget; billions. I think the dollar per foot figure is over $35,000.

Sheer stupidity.

[BurbankKarl]

Oh, just heard officers with RIOT GEAR heading to Staples Center....

KOMO may interrupt again by 10pm

[Not A Snowbird]

Seriesly?!

Are the Lakers winning? Or losing? Doesn't really matter, LA will burn down either way.

This could be hugh...

[Not A Snowbird]

Fortunately just some minor smoke inhalation and jangled nerves. A couple kids will have quite a story for show and tell tomorrow!

I was wondering about the effect this could have on the proposed monorail project. From what I gathered, this line is prone to electrical problems.

[sionnsar]

Huh! Well, now I know why helicopters were swarming over the Seattle Center when we left the Folklife Festival this afternoon... Glad this was all it was...