Washington DC Fire & EMS units responded to an apartment fire on Friday morning, Dec. 4. First arriving units reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the interior courtyard of the large apartment complex that takes up an entire city block at 12th & U Sts NW. A second alarm was quickly sounded.
The fire extended through all four floors of the complex via the balconies in the courtyard and into the cockloft. Truck companies worked hard to prevent the fire from extending further through the cockloft. Sprinklers in the building activated also helping to prevent additional extension.
Special calls were requested along with mutual aid from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue for an additional truck company to assist with opening up and overhaul. Hundreds of residents of the complex were displaced as a result of the fire. The Friendship Fire Association provided both rehab and canteen support on the scene.
-Trevor James
![firefighter dons SCBA mask](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-01-tj-1-of-1-437x600.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![hose on the street at fire scene](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-02-tj-1-of-1-434x600.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![DCFD Aerialscope fire truck](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-03-tj-1-of-1-600x399.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![aftermath of apartment fire](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-04-tj-1-of-1-575x600.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![fire chiefs at fire scene](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-05-tj-1-of-1-399x600.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![firefighter after a fire](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-06-tj-1-of-1-399x600.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![Friendship Fire Association rehab at fire scene](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-07-tj-1-of-1-600x399.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![DCFD aerial ladder truck](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-08-tj-1-of-1-399x600.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![DCFD fire trucks at scene](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-09-tj-1-of-1-600x327.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![Friendship Fire Association rehab at fire scene](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-10-tj-1-of-1-600x399.jpg)
Trevor James photo
![firefighters at fire scene](https://firescenes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dc-2nd-12th-11-tj-1-of-1-600x399.jpg)
Trevor James photo