As Battalion 6 and the Special Ops Battalion established command, reports were received of heavy smoke in the basement of 910 17th Street N.W. Units sent to that location confirmed heavy smoke in the basement, but no fire.

As further reports were received of buildings without power and people in stalled elevators, additional units, including the hazmat task force, were dispatched to the area.

Pepco was finally able to arrive at the scene to secure the problem in their underground power grid, after which the situation stabilized and fire department units were able to be released.