A street that saw lots of fire action in days gone by had a fiery blast from the past Wednesday morning, January 20th.
The safety officer was driving in the Shaw neighborhood around 9:30 AM when smoke in the area caught his attention. A search led him to 212 Bates Street NW, where flames were billowing from the top floor of a two-story, occupied, middle row dwelling.
The box was requested, and quickly escalated to a working fire dispatch. Despite the initial heavy fire conditions, the blaze was contained to the second floor of the original dwelling. All of the occupants safely escaped.
Washington, DC firefighters battled this 2-alarm blaze on Delafield PL, NW on Monday, 1/4/16. Units arrived on scene to find heavy fire on the 2nd floor. During the event, evac tones were sounded and a Mayday was called when part of E21’s crew was temporarily unaccounted for. Thankfully, they were quickly found to be safe. The family dog was rescued from the structure as well. Cramped city streets, the proximity of neighboring homes and electrical wires in close proximity created challenges in fighting the fire.
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.
DCFD units were called to the Pepco substation in the 1900 block of First Street SW (11/13/15). The response for the reported fire included a first-alarm assignment plus a foam task force, the haz mat unit, and the fireboats.
Companies stood-by at the gate until the Pepco personnel with PPE were in place at the facility to escort DC firefighters into the building. Light smoke was visible from the exterior. Upon entry, they located a storage room fire that did not involve the electric equipment and subsequently had no effect on service to customers. Several dry chemical extinguishers were discharged to extinguish the fire. Firefighters then performed overhaul and ventilation.