A reader sends in the photo above and writes:

“the church at 5th and N NW is on fire. You can see flames coming out of the roof. There are several trucks on scene, and firemen all over the building. I talked to a few firemen and the guy who called it in, but no one had any details.”

@IAFF36 tweeted:

“501 N St. – 50 firefighters control fire in a church in less than 12 minutes.”


Dear PoPville,

My friend lives at 1630 R St., NW where there was a fire Tuesday night. She is actually the one who called 911 when she went outside and saw flames coming out of a window. The firefighters told her that the cause of the fire was a meth lab(!) on the 4th floor. This news story confirms it. Who knew people make meth in luxury apartment buildings in Dupont?

Wild. WUSA9 wrote:

“An investigation into the cause of the fire led to the discovery of suspicious materials which may indicate a meth lab was being operated in the apartment.”

Somebody watching too much Breaking Bad


Thanks for always being there.

Great turnout for the celebration Sunday afternoon.

From DCFD:

“Engine Company 24 was placed in service on November 29, 1911 at 3702 Georgia Ave NW. The fire house was sold to Metro and the site was turned into a Metro Station subway stop. The front of the fire house was moved around the corner on New Hampshire Ave and is used by Metro as a transformer station . In May of 1994 the company moved into their new fire house at 5101 Georgia Ave NW. The new fire house was designed by member of the company and built by Metro.”


Captain Engine Co. 24 Christopher Sefton at the podium, Chief Kenneth Ellerbe seated, Council Member Muriel Bowser seated, VP IAFF Local 36 Charles Hottinger seated

More photos after the jump. (more…)


“Dear PoPville,

I live on 11th and Monroe St, NW and saw the industrial laundromat next to Columbia Heights Coffee get hosed down last night by DC firefighters. Props to my neighbor who saw the smoke and flames, flagged down a police officer, and got the firefighting team on the scene stat. Thankfully, no one was hurt to my knowledge. The owners have been assessing the damage and boarding up windows this morning.”


“Dear PoPville,

Have you heard anything about a van that was set on fire in the alley behind Fuller St (also behind Mozart place) last week on 11/10/11 ~1130pm?

I know for a fact there was police activity in the alley earlier in the night because the van (which had VA plates) was subject to vandalism (someone apparently shattered all of the windows of the van with rocks but didn’t take anything).

I also know for a fact that the same van was engulfed in flames around 1130-12am. Took the fire dept some time to get it put out, and the van was removed in the morning.

Doesn’t seem like a coincidence that the same van was targeted twice on the same night, with the second incident being very severe.

I know that the Christ House vans were subject to vandalism recently–shattered windows also. Not sure if the incidents are related.”

Lots of folks have written in about this van fire – I haven’t seen any follow up reports from MPD. Anyone else hear what happened? Learn the cause?


I always enjoy checking out the logos when I pass fire stations. I often give props to the cops but don’t get the opportunity to recognize firefighters as often. So, I’ll feature their logos from time to time as very small token of gratitude. Well, we might as well judge them too – which do you like better in Vol. 1 – Chinatown (above) or Capitol Hill (below)?


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