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DC Firefighters Rescue Two from Burning Apartment

Tuesday, January 15, 2002

DC Firefighters rescued two young women from a burning apartment on F St., NW early today.

Firefighters responded initially just before 5:00 a.m. for an automatic fire alarm sounding on the fifth floor of the Statesman Apartments, 2020 F St., NW. Lt. Kevin Stuart called communications to fill the box alarm when he observed smoke coming from the apartment. Lt. Stuart and his crew from Engine-23 forced entry and encountered a fire in the living room. Truck-2, led by Lt. Bob Purdy, arrived to find Engine-23's crew fighting the flames amid heavy smoke conditions. Firefighters on the ground observed two women at the bedroom window, and firefighters in the apartment heard the women's screams for help.

Firefighters pushed through the smoke in the living room to locate the women who were literally hanging out the bedroom window to avoid the heavy smoke. Firefighters physically removed the women, ages 20 and 21, to the hallway where it was determined the women were suffering from minor smoke inhalation. The firefighters then carried the women to safety. Both were transported to the George Washington University Medical Center.

A firefighter also sustained minor injuries when he slipped and fell on wet marble.

"Here's a situation that could've had tragic consequences," said Battalion Fire Chief Charles Diggs, the incident commander. "There is no question that the quick and calm intervention by our firefighters saved these women's lives."

DC Fire Investigators have determined that improperly discarded smoking materials sparked the blaze, which spread to a futon in the living room, eventually consuming the living area. Damage estimates have been placed at $5,000.