Woman Killed in Southeast D.C. Fire

D.C. Police say one person was killed -- and four other people were rescued -- in a southeast D.C. house fire Saturday morning.

The fire broke out in the 1200 block of Stevens Road SE, in the Barry Farms neighborhood, around 7 a.m. Firefighters found one person outside of the house but had to pull four others from the home.

Three adults and two children were hospitalized in critical condition, with injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to burns. One firefighter was also hurt in the rescue.

Later Saturday, D.C. fire officials and police confirmed that one of the patients had died. Late Saturday, that victim was identified as Mary Brooks, 54.

A witness described the dramatic scene: "There was crying, screaming, hollering, running ... and police taped off a lot of the different sections to eliminate the crowds fast, but they still grew in number," said the woman, who saw the blaze. "People were concerned."

There is no word yet on the cause of the fire. Red Cross volunteers are assisting those who were displaced.

Police investigated a deadly shooting just a block away earlier in the morning. 

Contact Us