Shots were fired at the scene of a car crash that D.C. firefighters responded to Thursday night, and the very next day, a fire inspector also called in gunfire near where they were working.
Firefighters first called for help when someone began shooting as Truck 8 and Engine 33 arrived at South Capitol and Elmira streets in Southwest about 8:20 p.m.
None of the firefighters was hurt, and it’s unclear if the shooter was aiming for the firefighters or just firing in the immediate area.
“D.C. Fire & EMS personnel put their lives on the line daily,” a D.C. Fire spokesperson said. “For them to also become targets of violence is totally senseless.”
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And on Friday, more gunfire came close to D.C. fire personnel.
According to the fire department, a fire inspector was checking on a fire watch in a building in the 600 block of Edgewood Street NE when they heard up to 50 shots nearby.
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Police responded to the call for an unlawful discharge of a weapon. They reported that they did not find a victim, but cars and possibly a residence were struck by bullets.
A recent News4 I-Team investigation put a spotlight on the growing dangers facing first responders in the District.
Myisha Richards was beaten by one of her patients while on a call. She’s back on the job, but things are not the same.
“I just moved differently because I was always on a high alert,” she said.
According to the I-Team investigation, a group at Drexel University that tracks "media-covered" assaults on firefighters found 350 online reports of firefighters assaulted on duty around the country in 2021 and 593 in 2022. D.C.’s fire union president told the I-Team it’s gotten worse since then.
Mental health professionals and peer support groups help D.C. firefighters deal with traumatic experiences. Those services were made available to the first responders from Thursday night’s shooting incident.
Washington DC Firefighters Local 36 released a statement saying, “It’s essential to acknowledge the mental toll these challenges take on our members as they witness and respond to traumatic incidents regularly. Local 36 is dedicated to promoting the mental health and well-being of our firefighters and EMS personnel, ensuring they receive the support and resources needed to cope with the stresses of their profession.”
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