(Washington, DC) Two fatal fires over the weekend in the District has the city’s Fire/EMS Chief calling for more awareness and diligence by residents on safety issues.
“Winter is prime time for accidental fires,” said Chief Adrian H. Thompson, who noted that after the holidays it is easy for people to become complacent regarding the safety of their home.
“It is critical that people take stock of their situations now,” said Chief Thompson. “Have working smoke alarms; have an escape plan; operate space heaters safely; know what you’re going to do if the unthinkable happens.”
Just after 10 pm Saturday, fire gutted the upstairs bedroom of a house in the 1300 block of Otis Place, NW. An alert neighbor ran two blocks to Engine 11 and told firefighters he smelled smoke. The firefighters responded quickly and conducted an aggressive search, but it was too late. A female victim was found badly burned still in her bed. Fire investigators have determined the woman was smoking in bed. Her name has not been released, pending notification of relatives. Damage was placed at $80,000.
Early Monday morning, firefighters responded to the 5100 block of Fulton Street, NW to find fire evident from a one-story single family home. An aggressive entry into the burning building found the body of a person in a dining area of the home. Positive identification has not been confirmed, and the precise cause of the fire is undetermined. But firefighters, in addition to coping with very cold temperatures, had to contend with a home that was cluttered with papers, furniture, clothing and other materials. That situation creates a very dangerous environment where any fire in the home will spread very rapidly. It also makes it very difficult for firefighters to conduct searches for possible victims.
Working smoke alarms cannot be confirmed in either of these fires. The District’s Fire Marshal urges everyone to check their smoke alarms once a month.
“Never leave your family unprotected,” said Fire Marshal Richard Fleming. “Every household in the District is entitled to a free smoke alarm. Just contact your local fire house.”