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About Yesterday’s Shuttle Bus Fire

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by Keith Krosinsky

“Dear PoPville,

Today [Tuesday] while I was walking home from work up North Capital St I witnessed smoke that started to pour out of a shuttle bus that was parked on the closed off section of the O St NE unit block. This smoke quickly turned dark black and I proceeded to phone in what was apparently a fire to 911. As I did so large flames began to emerge from the vehicle, and a number of apparently homeless people began to exit from a number of other similar shuttle buses parked nearby. One of these people thanked me for phoning in the fire but that proceeded to immediately ask if I had any money. The fire quickly engulfed the vehicle and I could feel that heat of the flames from at least 25 yards away. I just hope that no one was trapped in that bus.

I thought that it was worth writing in about this issue for a number of reasons.

I have noticed that this odd section of O St NE, which is fenced off at both ends and contains a number of apparently disused shuttle buses has become something of a squatter camp for homeless people and I have often noticed them milling about the immediate area during the evenings. This is an area near the Washington Firehouse Restaurant (somewhat ironic) and and the NOMA metro station and this block adds a particular level of blight to an area that has been improving in recent years. I don’t understand why this street is shut off, why these buses are haphazardly parked in the area and why it has been allowed to become a defacto camp for homeless people. Apparently something went wrong (to my untrained eye it appeared that an accelerant might have been involved as the fire spread extremely quickly), and this would seem to demonstrate the type of public safety hazard that squatter camps can impose.

I also wanted to bring up an issue that has been discussed on PoP recently, namely 911 call response times. My call to 911 was immediately answered (a good thing since I was apparently the first person to phone it in) and fire trucks were dispatched before the call was over. DC Fire & EMS arrived within 5 minutes of my call and quickly extinguished the fire. Not sure if the quick response time was due to it being a vehicle fire but I thought it was worth mentioning that, at least in this case, DC 911 and emergency services performed as any DC resident would hope.”

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Photo taken 7:10, Tuesday by Rob Rutledge.

Fire at MBT Entrance on L Street, NE

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader tweeted us on Monday:

“Yesterday found no more access to Metro Branch Trail @ L St bc top stairs were set on fire? Anyone know what happened?”

This morning a reader sends details via email:

“I called in the fire on the MBT steps on this past Friday night at around 10:30-10:45. From experience, it looked as though an accelerant was used, as, even though the steps are wooden, they went up in flames very quickly and were flaming in a way that indicates an accelerant. The Fire Department came in less than 2-3 minutes and worked on the fire for about five minutes before putting it out completely. I didn’t see anyone check out the scene or any DCPD/EMS arrive after.

The next morning, the stairs had been roped off with yellow caution tape, but no police or otherwise presence. The fire spread very close to the metro tracks (the grass at the top of the steps), so I was surprised to see that no one was out there checking it out. I know that some of the homeless people who sleep underneath the street bridge below sometimes sleep on the MBT bridge at night, so I’m hopeful there were no injuries.”

Big Row House Fire in Hill East

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader reports:

“It happened around 5:30am this morning on the 16th street just south of D Street, SE.”

@dcfireems tweets:

“UPDATE: 400blk of 16th St SE. 2 pts transported. 1 w/critical inj; 1 w/serious but NLT”

Fire at 17th and U Street, NW – Possibly VIda’s Roofdeck

By Prince Of Petworth

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‏@RarityInForm tweets us just after 8am:

“Fire @ VIDA 17th & U. Flames visible on the roof deck. Good thing the fire dept. across the street. @PoPville”

@dcfireems “Update: Fire is knocked down. Units checking for extension. #dctraffic”

@IAFF36 tweeted:

“1600 block of U St NW had some pallets on fire on the roof of a 4 story building which has been extinguished. traffic delays #dctraffic”

Minor Fire in Upstairs Offices above Fado in Chinatown

By Prince Of Petworth

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806 7th Street, NW

Update 10am: No damage to Fado – opening today on time!

A reader reports just after 9:30am:

“Just walked by to see three fire trucks pull up and firemen running in with the hose. No visible smoke from outside.”

Update: A reader notes this could be the offices upstairs as Fado’s door is the left of this photo.

Car Fire at New Hampshire and Upshur St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader reports:

“happened around 1130pm, last night. completely out of the blue, car glitch? Arson? Owners of the car don’t seem to be around.”

Ah the famed Car-b-que. Been a while since we’ve seen one. Reason always seems to be a mystery. Though I’m sure some may suspect an accelerator problem…

Another reader sends the after photo:

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Fire in Row House at Georgia and Quincy St, NW near Petworth Metro

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader on the ground reports just after 1:30pm:

“The focus of fire-fighting efforts is a row house on the east side of Georgia Avenue, just south of Quincy – next door to the Petworth Market. I saw no flames or smoke, but ladders and hoses deployed in front and behind that building. Traffic on Georgia Avenue is blocked in both direction between New Hampshire and Quincy. Fire vehicles occupy the street.”

@dcfireems tweets:

“Report of Fire – 3700blk of Georgia Ave NW – Units on the scene. Update: Fire has been extinguished. Units looking for extension. #dctraffic”

Former Seattle Fire Chief, Gregory Dean, Named New Fire EMS Chief

By Prince Of Petworth

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From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser named Gregory M. Dean as Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS).

“The safety and well-being of District residents is my top priority and FEMS is at the frontlines of this effort. Chief Dean is a proven, collaborative leader who led a department with an international reputation for its fire-based EMS performance. I am certain that he will work with our emergency first responders and the community to move the department forward in exciting ways,” said Mayor Bowser.

“I look forward to working with Mayor Bowser and FEMS providers to deliver efficient and compassionate fire and emergency medical services to the residents in all eight Wards,” said Dean. “We will build on the Department’s strengths and bring a data driven approach that will ensure we are delivering top-notch services 24/7.”

Dean previously served for 10 years as the Fire EMS chief for Seattle, Washington, where he led the administrative and operational functions of a team of 1,150 employees with a $175 million budget. He brings homeland security expertise and a reputation for working well with residents, labor and other stakeholders. (more…)

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