Chief Rubin speaks at a press conference after the fire at Harvard Towers.

(Washington, DC) Three DC firefighters are being commended for their work during a two-alarm fire early this morning in Mount Pleasant.

At 12:55 am, units in the Fourth Battalion responded to the report of smoke on the fifth floor of the Harvard Towers, a sprawling city-managed apartment building that is home to a large number of elderly residents. Firefighters located the blaze quickly and began suppression operations under heavy fire and smoke conditions.

Firefighter Tony Kelleher of Engine 4 and Firefighter/Paramedic Lynette Kramer from Engine 11 worked together to rescue a 63-year-old man, who was later transported to the George Washington University Medical Center suffering from smoke inhalation. Firefighter Paul Brooke, who was working on Engine 11, rescued an elderly woman from her apartment, helping her through a smoke-filled corridor to a stairwell and safety. Wagon Driver Rich Pullin also assisted in rendering care to the victims.

Fourteen other residents were treated by EMS personnel at the scene, and were not taken to hospitals. One firefighter was transported to MedStar suffering from what was described as a minor burn.

Investigators say the cause of the fire was determined to be careless smoking. The damage estimate is $50,000, and smoke alarms in the building were found to be in working order.