Investigators look for cause of five-alarm blaze

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - District fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the city’s first five-alarm fire in 29 years, which displaced more than 200 people from a Mount Pleasant apartment building and damaged a nearby church.

The blaze erupted at the four-story building at 3145 Mount Pleasant St. NW, shortly before midnight Wednesday. Firefighters used ladders to pull residents from the building as orange flames raged overhead.

Crews from Maryland and Virginia joined to combat the flames, which spread next door to the Meridian Hill Baptist Church. The fire ravaged the structure’s roof.

No residents were injured, but one firefighter suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Abigail Escobar said she quickly fled with her two young children after being awakened by a neighbor who knocked on the door.

“I only grabbed the children, who had no shoes, no anything, and we ran down the stairs,” Escobar said.

Fire Department spokesman Alan Etter said most of the apartment building was destroyed.

Members of the National Capital Fire Investigations Team had interviewed more than 70 witnesses and obtained several videotapes to determine exactly what happened in the blaze, D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said.

The apartment building where the fire started has been plagued with electrical, plumbing and infestation problems, and has been fined by the city, D.C. Councilman Jim Graham said.

Residents were bused to a Columbia Heights community center, where rescuers were collecting and distributing clothes, shoes, food and baby formula.

“We are going to make sure every person affected by this tragedy will be cared for,” Mayor Adrian Fenty said.

Graham, who represents the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, said calls from concerned citizens have inundated his office. Four landlords called offering dozens of apartments to those affected by the blaze.

To make a food or clothing donation, call 202-727-7925 or contact Neighbors’ Consejo at 202-234-6855. Clothes and goods can be dropped off at the Columbia Heights Community Center at 1480 Girard St. NW.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com

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