The District of Columbia's 144-year-old Eastern Market was destroyed by fire early this morning.
Just before 1 a.m. on April 30, units from the District of Columbia Fire Department were dispatched the market which is located at 7th and C Street SE for a reported building fire.
According to Alan Etter, Public Information Officer for DC Fire/EMS, units arrived on the scene and reported heavy fire showing from the one-story 100 x 200 feet long building.
As firefighters were attempting to attack the fire, the fire extended in the attic area and stated to travel the length of the building.
With heavy fire conditions throughout the building Battalion Fire Chief R.E. Ridgeway of the Second Battalion requested a second alarm and a few minutes latter a third alarm to be transmitted brining over 170 firefighters to battle the fire.
At one point firefighters had to be removed from the building and fight the fire from the outside using four ladder pipes and several hand lines.
It took firefighters over two hours to bring the fire under control with no injuries reported.
