Early video & radio traffic from DC 2-alarm hi-rise apartment fire

One resident was transported to the hospital and 6 others displaced after fire tore thru a third floor apartment in a Southwest hi-rise on Sunday afternoon, May 24th. A Box Alarm was sounded shortly after 2 PM for fire at 300 M Street SW, a large 8 story occupied apartment building. Several calls were received, including some from frantic residents reporting they were trapped. First arriving units reported fire showing from the third floor, and there were occupants at several balconies waving for assistance. A Working Fire Dispatch was requested, followed shortly afterwards by a 2nd Alarm. This brought approximately 20 units and 100 personnel to the scene. Firefighters began an interior attack on the blazing apartment, while others removed distressed occupants via aerial ladder and the bucket of Tower 3. Inside, members were directed to those units where people had telephoned for help. In most cases, residents were advised to shelter in place. The fire was confined to the apartment of origin and extinguished in about 15 minutes. Work than began on smoke removal and checking hallways and staircases for any victims. Although several occupants were evaluated on scene by EMS, only one required transportation to the hospital with a non life threatening condition. The many residents who evacuated were assisted by the American Red Cross, the DC Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and representatives from the Mayor’s office. It was eventually determined that four apartments were uninhabitable, and the six occupants of those units were displaced and received further assistance.Fire Investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze.

Posted by DC Fire And EMS on Sunday, May 24, 2020