Washington D.C. firefighters battled their third multiple alarm in a week as a four-alarm blaze gutted an unoccupied apartment building in the city's Northwest section.
The latest fire erupted around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, in a two-story 200-by-100 structure at 5408 1st Place N.W. Flames were in full possession of both floors in the rear when first alarm units arrived on the scene.
An aggressive interior attack was waged for over 30 minutes, but heavy fire in the cockloft and a sagging roof forced firefighters to withdraw. Additional alarms were sounded as tactics reverted to an outside attack with numerous master streams and hand lines.
The equivalent of four alarms were eventually requested, bringing over 19 engine companies and nine trucks to the scene, including mutual aid units from Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties in Maryland.
Two firefighters suffered non life threatening injuries and had to be transported to local hospitals.
