3rd Alarm Blaze in Former Firehouse- **MAYDAY CALL** Washington DC

A three-alarm fire broke out in a vacant former D.C. firehouse that was undergoing renovation, on the 1600 block of North Capitol St. NW, shortly after 7pm on Friday, December 15, 2023.
A mayday call was issued when a firefighter was in distress, but was quickly rescued, and an evacuation order was given. Ops switched to a defensive operation, which entailed 7 ladders, including DC's Tower Ladder 3, known as "Midnight Express." Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Tower 719, and units from Fort McNair assisted in mutual aid.
More than 25 fire trucks and 125 firefighters were on scene throughout the night. It appeared that a gas line may have fueled the fire at first.
According to The Washington Post, "The former firehouse, in the Bloomingdale area, near Eckington and Truxton Circle, dates to the last decade of the 19th century and was a District historic landmark. It had once housed Engine Co. No. 12. It was vacated by the fire department in 1987, according to a website on historic D.C. buildings."

[@terrisomers7843]

Great video! Thank you.😊

[@BethP-pl9nc]

Thank you for your coverage, it is very well done. Thank you to all the fire personnel and I hope they are all safe. I’m disappointed that yet again, we have 19 th century buildings involved in fires. The architecture is disappearing.

[@johnleaman9899]

You covered the 🔥excellently, Thanks, from an old 🚒from Lancaster, Pa.

[@kevinl4966]

Thanks Al....... . Great photography!!!

[@anthonymalvoso6100]

Great video, thanks.

[@edsmetaldetecting31]

Great footage I pray no one was injured.

[@speedysmoke]

What was the cause of the fire? Looks like it was under construction. Great footage. Thanks to P6 for sharing

[@rob55h]

Thanks Al!

[@stueyexmcfd]

Nice work

[@al_drago]

Thanks!

[@jessiemerritt9147]

Ty for footage. Hope and pray everyone was ok. God bless you and your family.

[@dugie5246]

Great video. Man, that's some heavy smoke conditions, and fire being fed by gas ain't helping either. Hope FF safe and OK

[@matttwomey8554]

Great video work💪🍀

[@LSVIDEOSFIRE]

Great footage Al

[@jpope537]

Great footage. I hope that firefighter is okay

[@davidfrye8780]

Thanks. I still remember this old Engine House. Sad to see this. I think at one time the Homeless tried to take it over.

[@nayanpanchal39]

Great video

[@jamesdempsey9477]

Great Video Bro

[@al_drago]

Thank you!

[@Stength]

How many alarms can DC handle by itself? I see other departments responded.

[@tjstarghill]

This video is clean, what was your camera setup ? From video, photos.

[@al_drago]

Thanks! footage is a mix of iPhone 13 Pro, and Sony A9 II, with 70-200mm 2.8.

[@user-qp3fz4hs3f]

Can you break down the Box Alarm Assignments?
Who went??

[@williamfairchild7439]

I'm gonna be a firefighter in 2024

[@thomasjsanford4229]

What was the building currently being used for ??

[@TomManning-cs4el]

More firefighter not wearing scba and gear on fire calls😂😂😂😂😂

[@johnaltobello5095]

Is the fire next door to the firehouse?

[@stueyexmcfd]

What went on the 3rd alarm

[@derrickguffey4775]

Not to sound crass or heartless but how ironic that a former fire house catches fire. Perhaps it shouldn't have been converted to housing. Unfortunately there are a lot of careless tenants and landlords lwho are just interested in money and not tenant safety. Shame that this historic old building burned though.

[@geraldfichtner1915]

Good coverage well done !