News on the DCist tip line and NBC4 is that the Georgetown Branch of the D.C. Public Library is on fire. The building, on the 3600 block of R St., NW, is currently under renovation.

Beginning at 12:45 this afternoon, we could see the smoke from the western edge of Dupont. The library was built in 1935 and has a number of historical documents and paintings which fire fighters are trying to save. NBC4 reports that it’s currently a two-alarm blaze. Judging from the dozens of emergency response vehicles heading that way, and today’s vicious winds, we fear that may be upgraded. Wikipedia (which should hardly be taken for gospel) also has rumors that it’s in danger of collapse.

Earlier this morning parts of historic Eastern Market were damaged by fire. There’s no word yet on the cause of either fire.

Andrew Wiseman contributed to this report

UPDATE: DCist Sommer here. I was just walking out of my office building on Wisconsin Ave. in Glover Park when I noticed the cause of the surge of fire truck and ambulance sirens just a few minutes before. The Georgetown branch of the D.C. Public Library is on fire. From my vantage point up the hill, I could see flames and smoke billowing up over the treetops that surround the library building, and it appeared as though the roof had collapsed. Fire crews and police have blocked off Wisconsin Ave. NW above S Street, and presumably below at least Q Street as well as the adjoining sidestreets, though we weren’t able to get to the other side to verify to exact street closures.

Longtime Georgetown residents were standing out on the sidewalk in disbelief. The building, which opened in 1935, had been under renovation.

Image from the DC Public Library website