As part of its testing in preparation of the opening of the new Expo light rail line, Metro officials held an emergency drill at 9 a.m. Thursday morning at the Metro Expo Line La Cienega/Jefferson station as well as at a nearby parking structure at the southeast corner of La Cienega Jefferson boulevards.

The drill simulated a fire inside a train car as well as a law enforcement incident in the nearby parking structure and was just one in a series of drills that will be undertaken throughout the year ahead of the opening of the line.

According to a Metro release, the purpose of the drills is to better coordinate response times and communications with Metro Rail staff and emergency responders.