Story & Photos by Alan Etter

On August 29, a late-morning fire began in electrical wiring in a Northwest car wash and spread to feeder lines under the street, causing a series of explosions and thick, black smoke to rise above Connecticut Avenue.

Units were dispatched at 10:30 AM for the report of smoke in the Flagship Car Wash, 4432 Connecticut Ave., NW.

Firefighters on Truck 12 and Engine 31 encountered heavy fire in the north wall of the car wash with electrical wires and gas lines exposed.

Acting Battalion Chief J.T. Blair ordered firefighters out of the car wash to the exterior of the building.

Crews responded with fire extinguishers because active current prohibited them from engaging hoses.

As the car wash burned, smoke began emanating from two manholes on the sidewalk outside the business.

There was a series of small explosions, and fire was visible from one of the manholes.

Pepco arrived at 1:17 to begin shutting off the power.

Once that was done, firefighters could then apply water to the still-burning wall.

"The origin of the fire appears accidental," said Fire Investigator Gerald Pennington.

"It's the result of some electrical malfunction in the building."

Damage estimates have been placed at $85,000.