Photos/Story by Alan Etter
Washington -- A dramatic late-morning fire has destroyed a church in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington.
Smoke could be seen for miles as Evangel Missionary Baptist Church burned at the corner of Rhode Island Ave. and Jackson St., NE shortly after 11:00 a.m. Heavy smoke was encountered as firefighters from Truck-15 arrived on the scene.
A woman met firefighters in front of the building and unlocked the front door. Firefighters entered, and immediately encountered heavy fire in the West basement area of the building. As they began to engage an interior attack, they discovered the fire had traveled up the walls and into the upper structure of the two-story building. The fire had been going for some time before authorities were even notified. The decision was made by Capt. Kevin Begley, the initial fireground commander, to evacuate firefighters from the building. The structure had been so consumed by fire and, therefore, structurally compromised, that it was unsafe to keep firefighters inside. They went to a heavy duty exterior operation and brought the fire under control within an hour.
One firefighter John Windsor, who is assigned to Engine 14 but working overtime on Engine 6, did slip and injure his ankle. He was taken to the Washington Hospital Center for treatment. There were no civilian injuries.
"It's sad when such a community fixture and spiritual base like a church is destroyed," said DC Fire/EMS Chief Ronnie Few, who responded to the fireground. "I can assure our citizens our firefighters did all they could to save this beloved building."
Because of the dangerous condition of the building, it is unclear when fire investigators could begin their investigation. The cause of the fire is undermined. Damage appears to be nearly complete.
Box Alarm: E12, E10, E06, E04, T15, T13, BC1, R1, E08 (communications)
Working Fire Dispatch: E14, BC4, CAR44, AIR1, T04, EMS45, A02, SAFO
Second Alarm: E11, E03, E27, E16, T06, T09, BC2, FFD, MCU, HM, CU, REHAB
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