Several residents were rescued, and a woman was seriously injured from a fire in an occupied apartment in Northwest, D.C., Sunday, authorities said.
Firefighters responded to a fire in the 1600 block of Park Road at about 9 a.m. Sunday. The fire occurred on the 4th floor of a five-story occupied apartment building, D.C. Fire and EMS said.
Firefighters said residents were in distress at the apartment's windows. Some people were removed by ladders and others were removed from inside the apartment, D.C. Fire said. It was not immediately clear how many residents were inside the apartment at the time of the fire.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
One woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, D.C. Fire said.
"[The was] smoke showing, people at numerous windows obviously in distress, calling for help," Vito Maggiolo, the department's public information officer, said. "An adult female severely injured. Critical, life-threatening injuries in front of the building. She was transported to a nearby trauma center."
A man was taken to the hospital with not life-threatening injuries. A third person was evaluated but later released, D.C. Fire said.
The fire was located in a stairwell between the 3rd and 4th floors, and first responders found some burning materials there. There was not a fire inside an apartment, according to firefighters.
Firefighters said the building was being ventilated while smoke conditions were removed.
Around the same time, there was a second fire at a townhouse in the 1600 block of 28th and Q Streets Southeast. Firefighters arrived about five minutes after the fire was reported.
Neighbor George Coe Jr. told News4 he jumped into action before firefighters arrived. He helped his friend and a newborn get out of the fire.
"I just ran in the building, helped everyone out," Coe said.
Authorities said the fire appeared to have started in the basement and spread to other floors of the building. 13 people were displaced.
The cause of the fires are under investigation.
