Fire Guts Eastern Market

Will the market's historic status save it from the wrecking ball if it's declared unstable? And is Fenty on board with getting it restored? Because it seems the City Council is dead set on turning the Florida Avenue Market into a gleaming, tax-generating borg cube.

thought I saw you there. I'm glad the structure is still standing. the radio report I woke up to had me fearing the absolute worst.

I wandered over this morning with my dog Jackson to check out the scene prior to Fenty's arrival. This is heartbreaking, and my condolences go out to the families of the vendors, we've all shopped with them....It is gratifying to hear quick response from DC governement about rebuilding, and we wish Eleanor luck in getting federal funding - But I am concerned now that new development opportunities may take over the historic nature of the market itself - So community action to help preserve the best of the market is necessary now! Where to start, though, and how to help be most effective. That's my question? Any ideas?

Blow it out your ass caphill14.

Not to diminish the loss of either Eastern Market, or what it meant to people, but didn't a fire wipe out the Mid-City Market many many many years ago?

It'd be nice if we could link the present and past event in our rebuilding efforts. Yes, I know, there are already plans to rebuild the O Street Market. But there has been one or another plan to do this for God_Only_Knows how many years.

Just the idea of relying on the awful Yes on Penn or the scary Safeway gives me major heartburn - I also hope not just for a speedy repair but some temp measure to keep the market vendors in business and me having access to fresh groceries that aren't ridiculously overpriced.

Let's hope restoring Eastern Market doesn't take them as long as it has to repair the O Street Market.

In terms of the looming questions of further development, I would be shocked to see the Market return as anything other than a similar type of worn-around-the-edges market. The appeal is the historic building, but also the sense that you are experiencing something full of life, not white washed and staid. You are a part of the market, Mr. Canales, Mr. Calomaris, Market Lunch... And the time before it is rebuilt will be a loss to the community.

they should tear it down and build condos!
if the condos they want to build at the florida ave farmers market is called "new town", the new condos built at eastern market could be "old town" maybe.
oh, and maybe build another ruby tuesdays for ground floor retail!
they should raze the library of congress, the supreme court, and the capitol to build condos too.
they could move that crap out to reston or some place like that.
maybe pave the entire mall and build more condos.
think of the increased population density!
WE NEED CONDOS!
MORE CONDOS!

Worst. Firefighting Exercise. Ever.

Old, old building, dark even when not full of smoke. Mazelike, bric-a-brac filled interior full of: cooking grease (?), fuels (?), cleaning solutions (?). Maximum interior distance from an exit 100 feet plus. No straight lines to exits, exits not necessarily visible. Interior walls and obstructions not full height, so search lines and hoses can get hung up on them. Interior obstructions movable (fridges, display cases) so that even the maze is not fixed. Interior obstructions light enough to fall over, heavy enough that they can trap. Likely no map available. Windows not necessarily accessible to someone on the first floor. Roof unstable under heat. Brick construction maximally contains and reflects heat.

*shudder*. The fact that they went to interior operations *at all* says some combination of brass balls, they thought the fire was smaller than it was, or they thought there was someone still in there. I would have pulled up, "Yep, Eastern Market's on fire," chcekd to see if anyone was screaming or hanging out windows, and otherwise started hosing it down from the outside while enjoying a cigarette, - the extent of your power there is to determine whether "giant fire, collapsed roof" turns into "giant fire, collapsed roof, pile of dead firefighters." Good on DCFD for choosing the former.

Shelley - No doubt Eastern Market is the soul of the Hill. After living on the Hill for ten years it's almost impossible for me to go there on a weekend morning and not run into a friend, neighbor, teammate, co-worker, or family member. Eastern Market was the first public place I took Baby Rat after she was born.

Worst. Firefighting Exercise. Ever.

Old, old building, dark even when not full of smoke. Mazelike, bric-a-brac filled interior full of: cooking grease (?), fuels (?), cleaning solutions (?). Maximum interior distance from an exit 100 feet plus. No straight lines to exits, exits not necessarily visible. Interior walls and obstructions not full height, so search lines and hoses can get hung up on them. Interior obstructions movable (fridges, display cases) so that even the maze is not fixed. Interior obstructions light enough to fall over, heavy enough that they can trap. Likely no map available. Windows not necessarily accessible to someone on the first floor. Roof unstable under heat. Brick construction maximally contains and reflects heat.

*shudder*. The fact that they went to interior operations *at all* says some combination of brass balls, they thought the fire was smaller than it was, or they thought there was someone still in there. I would have pulled up, "Yep, Eastern Market's on fire," chcekd to see if anyone was screaming or hanging out windows, and otherwise started hosing it down from the outside while enjoying a cigarette, - the extent of your power there is to determine whether "giant fire, collapsed roof" turns into "giant fire, collapsed roof, pile of dead firefighters." Good on DCFD for choosing the former.

Caitlin:

Tomorrow is the due date for North Hall/Flea Market managment RFPs, so there would have been changes without this catastrophe. Too bad the only coverage of that issue has been in the Hill Rag, so heavy with real estate ads that few people realize it has any articles at all.

I feel for you guys Caitlan. That was one of my first reactions when I saw this. most hill residents took a lot of pride in eastern market and spending their money in the neighborhood. it wasn't a perfect place, it was crowded, chaotic and bit gritty, and finding a quick exit from the building was always a fun game of lets see what's behind door number 2. but it was a great place to get fresh meat, a quick bite to eat, knick knacks for the house or just to hang out on a nice summer day. Most of the vendors were super friendly and the prices were reasonable for DC. I stopped by there just yesterday to get one of those gargantuan apple fritters from the bakery.

It will be interesting to see how they rebuild. Most of the eyewitness accounts so far say the exterior of the building appears to be relatively intact. But the question is do they invite all the same businesses back? will some of the businesses move elsewhere because of the long wait to rebuild? Or will they go under as Caitlin suggest. Will Fenty sell out and have the building anchored by a potbelly, chipotle or yet another condo development? A lot of the charm and glory will be lost once they fix it up. I just hope they can do this quickly. The pictures of the damage don't look as bad as it could have been. Assuming the building is still structurally sound, they could put a new roof and redo the inside in a few months if they put their minds too it. of course this being DC, it will probably be a year before they even agree on a plan to move forward. And then another year before they even break ground.

Summer is high time for the Market, so immediate steps need to be taken to make sure that it still remains a destination. The largest tragedy here is, of course, the merchants who are permanently located inside the building that sustained the place on the weekdays.

But we can't overlook the tremendous draw the place had on the weekends with all of the vendors coming with their wares.

It's fairly certain that the Market and its sidewalks will be fenced off for public safety.

Maybe we can convince the DC Government and local businesses to close off 7th for pedestrian traffic only, and still allow the vendors to congregate and set up shop in the street?

Continued visibility of the Market and its needs will be critical -- and no better way to raise donations than a constant stream of visitors.

Brian -- can you post a link or cite the source on the library fire?

Anyone that thinks Eastern Market will be rebuilt quickly is fooling themselves.

Arguing and dithering over Eastern Market is the original Capitol Hill bloodsport. Expect that sport to be ratcheted up from low simmer to Olympic status now.

Sadly, it's that very dithering that got us here. Anybody with half a brain could tell you it was a fire trap. No sprinklers. Tons of grease and other restaurant-type combustibles.

Sure, an upgrade years ago may not have prevented the dumpster fire itself. But it's a safe bet to say sprinklers would have stopped the main building from being damaged nearly as much.

And I'm betting there's some sort of fire code against having dumpsters butt up against your building. But EM has ignored that for years. They pushed the dumpsters up against the building so they could park on that land near the dumpsters for parking.

Let the bickering commence.

Live streaming video of Georgetown fire (smoky mostly):http://www.nbc4.com/videostream/9476753/detail.html

caphill14 is obviously a DB, but he might have a point in his sarcasm about the reflexive request for federal funding. the eastern market is surrounded by homes worth a million bucks. the city is spending 600 mil to build a baseball stadium. meanwhile, our nation is drowning in debt and serious problems. surely the DC govt can repair this city-owned landmark.

I imagine that DC, like any property owner has insurance, so hopefully that will provide some or all of the funding for a quick re-build.

tdDC: DC, like many governments, is "self-insured," a euphemism for "no damn insurance at all; the taxpayers can cover it."

Eastern Market is a local and tourist destination. I come down 2-3 times a month from Silver Spring.

While tragic, this will give the market an opportunity to have brandnew build out, and future proof it for years to come.

I hope that DCist will post information about what sections while remain/reopen on the weekends, and that market goers continue to patronize the surrounding stalls and businesses. This rebuilding will only die off if foot traffic dies down. If you are concerned that this rebuild might get bogged down, then get involved. Keep pressue on the city, be involved in fundraisers and information campaigns (I am sure they will happen). The market could quickly and easily bounce back, so long as city residents push for it.

The only real losses that you may see, are that many of the specific businesses, even if relocated, may not be able to recover from this loss and reopen when the building does. It may be a new set of businesses, regardles of Fenty's effort to temporarily relocate. Also, if relocating, they may just stay in their new locations. This is not, however, necessarily bad.

And while I haven't seen it mentioned, are we sure that no one was hurt?

On the bright side, maybe they'll renovate the place and add an extra level to the market. An extra level or half-level might allow some more vendors to the place.

The most important element in this is we have the communities and the DC Government's support/ commitment. As merchants inside the South Hall, we are resilient and enduring, as many of out families have gone through the ebbs and tides owning a business in SE can bring. In most our cases for 40+ years. The market will be rebuilt.

~ Mike Bowers, Bowers Fancy Dairy Products, Stand #400, Eastern Market

It wasn't much of a "market" to begin with. Just a place for nouveau hippies to buy incense sticks, Afro-centric "art" and 4-day old fish. If that's your idea of a unique urban experience, then you need to get out of DC more. Good riddance, say I.

Caitlin - Don't feed the troll.

I was awakened by the smell of smoke at 3:15 AM two blocks away at 9th & North Carolina, and got dressed to see tragic history unfolding before my eyes. I met a man that had been at Cap Lunge earlier and he mentioned right then about the one or two other dumpster fires that preceeded the Market blaze. I can't believe this is NOT arson, or delayed something in one of those dumpsters. Also couldn't understand why DCFD stood around watching the building burn. Only when some flames shot out the portico above the main entrance did they turn on the hoses again. The fire was clearly burning in the roof directly above the entrance to the main entrance. I was interviewed on Channel 9 after Tommy Wells and the Fire Chief and he said that they feared the roof would collpase. The roof still was in tact when I got there. Horribly sad. We need those vendors back in business asap.