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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Firefighters raced to evacuate a Mount Pleasant apartment complex early Thursday morning as fire quickly spread through the building and to an adjacent church.

Firefighters responded to the the 3100 block of Mount Pleasant Street around midnight. The fire was initially reported on the second floor of the four-story building, but investigators now suspect it started in the basement and crept up inside the walls.

"Once the firefight began on the second floor, it was quickly realized there was heavy fire on the first as well as in the attic of the basement," said D.C. fire Chief Dennis Rubin. "So a significant major fire, that had perhaps been brewing for quite awhile."

Rubin says a resident was awakened by a smoke alarm and called 911.

One woman was reportedly transported to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. A fire lieutenant was also treated after firefighters went in to rescue him.

Meantime firefighters realized the blaze was only getting worse. Fire crews were ordered out of building around 1 a.m. Neighboring apartment buildings were also evacuated.

"As the firefighters continued to evacuate the folks, a lieutenant did get separated from his company after making a rescue that, without a doubt, saved a person's life," said Rubin. "The lieutenant was disoriented. We had to go and rescue him."

"At that point it was obvious the fire was going to spread beyond the initial address," added Rubin. "We began evacuating the other buildings. That's when the church caught fire."

Burning embers from the apartment fire are believed to have sparked another fire at the historic Meridian Hill Baptist Church on 16th Street, directly behind the burning apartment building.

"There's been some serious damage here," said D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter, referring to the church which has been empty, and for sale, for about two years.

In a news conference, Mayor Adrian Fenty and Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham made references to past code violations at the apartment building.

"We've had a terrific problem with this particular owner," said Graham. "We have stood by the tenants in their fight to remain in the building, and to have quality of life."

District Emergency Management officials say 16th Street will be closed between Park Road and Lamont Street during the morning rush hour, as will Mount Pleasant Street.

Copyright 2008 by WJLA-TV.

Republished with permission of WJLA-TV.

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