The Eastern Market community, still trying to recover from a disasterous blaze earlier this year, suffered another blow by fire on Wednesday night, September 18th.

As fans and a number of D.C. fire officials were leaving RFK stadium following "Firefighters Appreciation Day" at a Nationals ball game, units were dispatched on a box alarm to 214 7th Street S.E., directly across from the gutted Eastern Market.

Companies arrived to find fire in a first floor store in the two story building, with occupied apartments above. A Working Fire Dispatch was sounded to help battle the blaze.

Firefighters moved in with handlines to do battle with the flames, while a frantic search ensued for occupants who bystanders said were trapped upstairs. Fortunately, that report proved to be false.

Because of the community's sensitivity to fire after the Eastern Market blaze, Fire Chief Dennis Rubin also raced to the scene, and briefed local Councilman Tommy Wells on efforts to control the incident.

The fire was brought under control without injuries, but occupants of the apartments above were temporarily left homeless.