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Fire Forces Evacuation of Rosslyn Office Building

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 12:55 p.m.) An office building on the 1500 block of Wilson Boulevard was evacuated around 12:15 this afternoon after smoke started pouring from a shaft in the building’s parking garage.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the small blaze by spraying water from a grate above the garage.

The fire forced the evacuation of at least one building. It also snarled traffic on Wilson Boulevard, where fire trucks completely blocked the road, bringing cars to a standstill.

Firefighters are in the process of clearing the scene and have reopened at least one lane on Wilson Boulevard.

Update at 2:30 p.m. — A cameraman from the Arlington Virginia Network happened to be walking by when the fire broke out. See AVN’s video of the incident here.

Vehicle Fire Reported on Westbound Route 50

By ARLnow.com

A three-vehicle accident has been reported in the lefthand lanes of westbound Route 50 near the exit to Rosslyn-Key Bridge.

The fire department is on the scene and reporting that one of the vehicles is on fire.

Update at 6:05 p.m. — The fire has been extinguished. One patient is being evaluated by medics. As of right now, only one lane is getting by on westbound Route 50, causing delays.

Road Closures and Metro Changes for Marine Corps Marathon

By ARLnow.com

It’s going to be very hard to get around certain parts of Arlington on Sunday. The Marine Corps Marathon will shut down streets in Rosslyn, Crystal City and Pentagon City. The Key Bridge and a stretch of Lee Highway will also be closed.

The good news is that Metro will be opening at 5:00 a.m., two hours earlier than usual, to accommodate marathon runners and spectators (the race starts at 8:15 a.m.). Metro will be running additional Blue Line trains for much of the day, but the agency says riders should expect the system to be especially busy.

“Customers can expect crowded conditions, especially after the race as people will have to wait in long lines to get back into the rail stations,” Metro said in a statement.

Also due to the marathon, buses that normally serve the Pentagon Transit Center will be relocated to the Pentagon City station until 4:00 p.m.

The Arlington County Police Department’s full road closure list, after the jump.

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School Bus Accident Reported

By ARLnow.com

An accident involving a school bus occurred on George Mason Drive at Arlington Boulevard (Route 50) around 3:15 this afternoon.

Two students were on board at the time. They were not injured, we hear.

No word on what caused the accident.

Columbia Pike Shut Down for Suspicious Package Investigation

By ARLnow.com

Update at 11:12 a.m. — And just like that, the scene has been cleared. The package has been declared harmless and Columbia Pike has reopened.

Columbia Pike is being shut down near the Navy Annex as Pentagon police investigate a suspicious package at a bus stop. The bus stop is located next to a Department of Defense-run parking lot.

Arlington police will be shutting down Columbia Pike from South Joyce Street to South Orme Street. The ramps from Washington Boulevard may also be shut down.

Traffic Lights Out Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

The traffic lights at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and North Stafford Drive are dark due to a small power outage in the area.

About 100 Dominion customers are affected by the outage. The company expects to get the power back on by 4:00 this afternoon.

Police are placing portable stop signs on the road to remind drivers to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Earlier this morning, fire fighters responded to the adjacent Central United Methodist Church for a report of smoke in the boiler room, likely a result of the power outage.

Water Main Break Shuts Down Part of Clarendon Boulevard

By ARLnow.com

Clarendon Boulevard is closed between Scott Street and Rhodes Street due to a water main break.

So far, no word on when the road might reopen. Traffic should be able to continue east on 16th Street and make a left on Quinn Street to get around the closure.

Update at 4:40 p.m. — The repairs and the closures will last into the night, Arlington County officials say.

BREAKING NEWS — Shots Fired At Pentagon, Lanes Closed

By ARLnow.com

Traffic on southbound I-395 is being diverted onto southbound Route 1, just before the Pentagon, causing big backups. We’re told Pentagon police are investigating some sort of an incident that occurred last night.

Update at 9:20 a.m. — In the comments section, FREDTERP has what is very likely the subject of the investigation: an unconfirmed report of shots fired near the Pentagon early this morning. We’re still awaiting comment from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.

Update at 9:40 a.m. — Southbound I-395 has reopened, but now northbound I-395 is being diverted at Washington Boulevard.

Update at 9:55 a.m. — Traffic on northbound I-395 is backing up past Seminary Road.

Update at 10:00 a.m. — The mainline of northbound I-395 is back open.

Update at 10:25 a.m. — The northbound HOV lanes are closed. Cars in the HOV lanes before the closure are essentially trapped, although a number of vehicles are escaping the backup by going the wrong way up a ramp near Shirlington.

Update at 10:35 a.m. — NBC4 is reporting that at least two bullets hit the Pentagon this morning.

Update at 10:55 a.m. — The HOV lanes on I-395 are back open.

Update at 12:25 p.m. — “What we have is an isolated incident, so far,” a Pentagon official says at a news conference. There has been speculation about a possible connection to shots fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. over the weekend.

Accident at Dangerous Ballston Intersection

By ARLnow.com

Police are reporting a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and Glebe Road in Ballston. At least one person — an occupant of one of the cars — was reported to be in need of medical assistance. The emergency response may be causing some traffic issues.

The intersection and its approaches have been the scene of two serious pedestrian accidents this month. One happened in a slip lane at the intersection. Another happened before the intersection on Fairfax Drive.

No pedestrians were hurt in this morning’s crash.

Update at 1:30 p.m. — Yet another accident happened on Fairfax Drive near the intersection with Glebe Road just before 1:00 this afternoon. At least two cars were hauled away from the scene on flatbed tow trucks. One injury was reported but not confirmed.

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