Northeast house fire ruled arson

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The two-alarm blaze that burned four homes in Northeast Washington on Wednesday was set on purpose, and investigators have a good lead on a suspect, D.C. fire officials said Thursday.

The raging fire displaced 12 people from their homes, and neighbors and firefighters helped pull an 83-year-old woman in a wheelchair and two cats from the burning houses, D.C. fire officials said.

Fire investigators determined that the blaze was deliberately set after a dog trained to detect the use of accelerants found traces of an ignitable liquid used to start the fire, D.C. Fire department spokesman Alan Etter said.

 “It was arson. No question about it,” Etter said. “We do know that someone set it. Who that is has not been determined.”

Arson investigators have developed good information and were looking for the suspect late Thursday, fire officials said.

Fire officials received a report of the blaze in the 300 block of L Street at about 7:30 p.m. Firefighters discovered heavy fire on the first floor and neighbors rescuing the elderly woman, Etter said.

Emergency medical technicians treated her for minor smoke inhalation but she refused to be taken to a  hospital, Etter said.

The fire spread to adjoining homes, and more firefighters were called in to join the battle.

In the house next door, firefighters discovered two cats and removed both alive and well, Etter said.

There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters, but a dozen residents were being relocated to temporary housing. The fire caused about $500,000 in damage.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com

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