Two Building Collapses Keep Units Busy
April 19th

A pair of partial building collapses in D.C.'s Northwest quadrant keep the Cave-in Task Force on the run Monday, April 20th.

The first incident began when a citizen called the quarters of Engine and Truck 9 to report that an adjacent home at 2032 17th Street, just around the corner from the firehouse, had collapsed. Both units proceeded to investigate, and discovered that two floors of the exterior wall on a three story unoccupied row house had indeed collapsed into an adjacent alley.

Subsequent calls for assistance brought the Fifth Battalion Chief, Rescue Squad 1, the Cave-in Task Force, and the Firefighting Deputy.

The precarious condition of the building posed a threat to the adjacent attached, occupied home, as well as the rear of other homes on Seaton Street N.W. Residents

 

 

   

were evacuated and utilities secured.

Firefighters could not stabilize the structure, and the scene was finally turned over to the city's Emergency Management Agency and Metropolitan Police.

A few hours later, a collapse assignment was sounded for 4109 5th Street N.W. Units arrived at that location to discover that the rear of a vacant home had also fallen in. A search of the debris revealed no victims, and firefighters again secured the area after determining there was no further danger.