Yesterday, the District's Fire Engine Company 24 celebrated a full century of putting out fires. But more than that, the company, which is located in Petworth, commemorated a rich history that includes it being the first one in the city to switch from using horses to motorized vehicles. more ›

In this week's edition of stupid drivers... more ›

DC Fire and EMS reported that a fire broke out on a two story building at 9th and T Streets NW around 7 a.m. this morning. The fire originated on the roof, and the building was evacuated. more ›

A few more details have surfaced surrounding the discovery of a mini-drug lab in a Georgetown University freshman dormitory yesterday morning. According to MPD, freshmen John Romano ’14 and Charles Smith ’14, and campus visitor John Perrone were arrested yesterday on the charge of manufacturing a controlled substance. The DEA has confirmed that Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) was manufactured with the intent to sell within room 926 of Harbin Hall. Although chemicals were removed from the premises by a hazmat team, university officials have communicated to students that there was little to no risk to those living outside of the room. more ›

Only two months into the school year and already we can rely on college students to break the drudgery of a slow fall day. Early this morning, a Georgetown University dormitory was evacuated after MPD discovered a suspected drug lab. Initial reports indicate that around 6:15 a.m. a hazmat team was called to Harbin Hall for a strange odor on the ninth floor. After 400 students, mostly freshmen, were evacuated investigators found a large stash of chemicals thought to be used for making methamphetamines in one of the top-floor rooms. Although no drugs were found by MPD, campus officials later said the lab was not used for making meth, but rather Dimethyltryptamine (DMT-hallucinogenic) and that three arrests have been made. more ›

TBD and DCist weekend editor Dave Stroup are reporting that D.C. Fire & EMS have closed off 16th Street between Kalorama and Columbia Roads due to a suspicious package. Stroup reports that the epicenter of the incident appears to be at the corner of 16th and Euclid Streets. He also notes that residents in the area, including himself, are being told to stay in their homes and apartments until further notice. Police are saying a suspicious backpack was left at a bus stop at around 11:45 a.m., but MPD as well as USSS are still on the scene. more ›

Managing and arts editor Heather Goss grabbed this photo of a car ablaze in an alley off of Kenyon Street, NW last night. The car fire was found at approximately 12:15 a.m. and lasted 15-20 minutes until D.C. Fire/EMS arrived. Despite its close proximity to residential houses, no property appeared to be damaged, except for a poor tree, doubly seared from the weather and now fire. According to Goss, a resident of the neighborhood, the exact same spot, now marked with a few charred remnants and debris, was used eight months ago for another car fire. DCist would like to remind its readers that there are more productive ways of getting rid of your car than trying to roast marshmallows on the dashboard. Try a donation to any number of local organizations. more ›

The Federal Center SW Metro station has been evacuated and temporarily closed due to a report of smoke inside the station. WMATA has established shuttle bus service around the closure. The smoke is believed to have been caused by a burned-out lighting fixture near the station platform. No injuries have been reported, but D.C. Fire/EMS is still on the scene investigating. Stay tuned. UPDATE 2:30 p.m. WMATA reports the station has re-opened. more ›

A manhole explosion sent bricks flying near the corner of 9th and L streets NW, causing minor damage to an SUV that was parked next to it. The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. No injuries have been reported. more ›

A large-scale shooting in the Washington Highlands neighborhood earlier this evening has left three people dead and as many as seven others injured. more ›

A fire broke out inside some duct work this afternoon at 1320 19th Street NW. more ›

A small fire broke out in the walls of an apartment building in the 1800 block of Connecticut Ave. NW at about 4:30 p.m. No injuries have been reported and the fire is under control, but light smoke conditions still exist inside the building, according to D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer. more ›

Three people were injured in a large traffic collision at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW this morning. The intersection has since reopened, but the crash, which involved a D.C. firetruck along with two civilian vehicles, caused major traffic delays throughout the area for well over an hour. more ›

An adult male was shot at about 2 p.m. this afternoon in the vicinity of the Shaw/Howard Univ. Metro station. more ›

Police, fire and hazmat crews responded at about 12:50 p.m. to a report of a suspicious package that was delivered to an office at 1850 K Street NW. more ›

A hazmat investigation at the building that houses the National Postal Museum has shut down several blocks in the immediate area as well as around nearby Union Station. U.S. Capitol police, D.C. police and D.C. Fire/EMS crews are on the scene investigating an unknown suspicious substance found inside a bottle. One employee inside Postal Square, located at the intersection of North Capitol Street and Massachusetts Ave. NE, tells DCist he's been asked to shelter in place -- meaning the building has not been evacuated, but no one is being allowed to leave, either. We'll update when we have more details. MORE: No illnesses have been reported, but the bottle apparently came with a note that raised suspicions. Mass. Ave. is currently closed from New Jersey to Columbus Ave., as is North Capitol from E to G Streets NE. 10:17 a.m.: DDOT now says Mass. Ave. and North Capitol streets have reopened. more ›

The 700 block of First Street NE is currently closed while crews respond to a suspicious substance found in a nearby building. more ›

Powerful winds blowing through the D.C. area since last night are wreaking havoc on the city's trees and power lines. The District Department of Transportation says it has been working to respond to almost 80 reports of downed trees or branches blocking city streets, sidewalks and alleyways since the winds began on Thursday. Some trees have also fallen on top of vehicles and buildings. Here's just a small sampling of the kinds of calls D.C.'s tree crews are dealing with today: more ›

An elderly man believed to have been confined to his bed died in a house fire in the 5200 block of East Capitol Street SE early this morning. D.C. Fire/EMS crews responding to the call at about 5:30 a.m. encountered heavy fire conditions originating from the basement of a two-story duplex unit at 5213 East Capitol Street SE, according to department spokesperson Pete Piringer. Three residents from the other unit were able to escape unharmed, and one of them tried to assist the man who was trapped in the basement, but was unable to reach him due to excessive heat and smoke from the fire, Piringer said. The man, an 88-year-old male whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead on the scene. The fire, which is believed to be the result of an accident, is estimated to have caused between $200-$250K worth of damage. The family living in the other unit has been displaced by the damage. more ›

D.C. Fire Department Deputy Chief Kenneth Ellerbe has resigned after it was revealed that he had been allowed to keep his D.C. job even though he had already taken a new position in Florida, Matthew Cella reports in the Washington Times. The unusual arrangement had reportedly come about so that Ellerbe could collect his full pension immediately, even though he was no longer on the city's payroll. "D.C. Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin last month sent a letter to Deputy Chief Kenneth Ellerbe revoking a personnel exchange program that allowed Chief Ellerbe to serve with both departments at once," Cella writes. The resignation comes a couple of months before Ellerbe turns 50, the age when he could have begun collecting his D.C. pension had he remained on the department's books. more ›

In a follow-up to this morning's Georgetown road closures following an electrical fire in the 2800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, we can now report that at least two lanes on Penn. Ave. have since been reopened, and both Rock Creek Parkway and the Key Bridge, which were both closed, have been fully reopened as well. Fire department spokesperson Pete Piringer said the fire now appears to have been caused by electrical cables associated with the street lights along the Pennsylvania Ave. bridge. more ›

If your lunchtime routine often includes the Potbelly Sandwich Works location at 1900 L St. NW, you may have run into some trouble snagging that meatball sub on wheat bread today. The restaurant was briefly evacuated in the middle of the lunch rush on Monday due to customer complaints of an apparent mild irritant in the air. D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer said hazmat tests for possible air toxins inside the shop all came up negative, but several people were evaluated for symptoms such as watering eyes and sneezing. The fire department doesn't know for sure what caused the reactions, but Piringer speculated it may have been something like a mild pepper spray substance. Or maybe it was just all those hot peppers? The whole incident was over in under an hour, and the Potbelly is back to business as usual. more ›

View Manhole fire in a larger map more ›

A fire broke out this morning inside an Indian restaurant in the 1700 block of L Street NW, leading to the evacuation of several nearby buildings. more ›

A total of 15 people have been displaced by a house fire that broke out just before noon today at 1408 30th Street SE, according to D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer. The nine adults, six children and various pets who lived in the detached single-family home in the Fort Dupont neighborhood of Southeast D.C. are unable to return home due to significant smoke and fire damage. Firefighters believe the blaze started in the basement, but the cause of the fire is under investigation, Piringer said. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. more ›

This week's steady rains appear to be to blame for a construction site in the 100 block of 15th Street SE being declared unstable this afternoon. Saturated ground there has caused the walls of a row of commercial buildings currently undergoing renovations to separate, according to D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer. Rescue crews responded to the scene at about 2:45 p.m., and made the call to evacuate the area, including several nearby commercial buildings at 112 and 115 15th Street SE, as well as 1500 Independence Ave. SE. No injuries have been reported. more ›

A pair of large police and emergency responses to report going on downtown today. more ›

A fire broke out on the roof of Kelly's Irish Times pub at a little after 4:30 p.m. this afternoon, according to D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer. The bar, located near Union Station at 14 F Street NW, was evacuated while D.C. firefighters worked to get the blaze under control. Crews are still on the scene working to make sure the fire is completely out and did not extend anywhere else, Piringer said. more ›

A gas leak earlier today inside the Cuban Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy caused part of 16th Street NW to be closed between Euclid St. and Columbia Rd. The road has since reopened and Washington Gas Co. was on the scene to address the leak. more ›

With a big tip of the hat to WTOP, the D.C. Fire/EMS department has just released this 12-minute video about the rescue effort that followed the June 22 Red Line crash, which killed nine people and injured dozens of others.

The video was shot by D.C. Firefighter Vito Maggiolo. more ›