FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:        Douglas Buchanan (FEMS) 202.673.3394; [email protected]

(Washington, D.C) – Three residents were rescued by DC firefighters from their burning Southeast apartment building on Wednesday morning, June 22nd.

DC Fire and EMS were called to the apartment building at 2952 2nd Street, SE at 7:43 AM for the report of fire with people trapped.  DC FEMS members arrived within four minutes to encounter fire on the second floor of the three story building, with occupants in distress directly above the burning apartment.

Utilizing their aerial ladder, firefighters from Truck Company 16 were able to quickly remove two male children and an adult female to safety.  The children, ages five and twelve, and the twenty one year old adult were all transported to the hospital for observation.

Two other residents chose to leap to safety from the third floor, and both of which were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. In addition, a third resident, an eight year old child, was also transported to the hospital for observation.

During the battle to control the blaze, one of the firefighters manning the initial attack hose line suffered burns to the hands and was also taken to the burn center at Medstar. She has since been released.

Although the fire was quickly extinguished, it caused enough damage to displace nine families, totaling twenty eight individuals. They were assisted by the National Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Our fire investigation unit has determined the fire was of accidental origin.

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