WASHINGTON, D.C. – A man lost his life early Tuesday morning after a fire, caused by fireplace debris, broke out in a Northwest D.C. apartment.
D.C. Fire and EMS crews responded to the 1500 block of Ogden Street NW around 1 a.m. after reports of a fire. Flames were visible on the first floor of the building when firefighters arrived. The fire was extinguished quickly, and the man was pulled from the apartment in critical condition. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead later that morning at the hospital.
Investigators determined that the fire was accidental, with debris left in the fireplace being the cause. Neighbors remembered the victim as a kind person and expressed relief that firefighters contained the blaze before it spread further.
In response to the tragedy, D.C. Fire and EMS began fire safety outreach efforts in the nearby Columbia Heights neighborhood. Crews conducted home safety inspections, checked for working smoke alarms, and educated residents about fire prevention to ensure a similar tragedy doesn’t happen again.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety, particularly during the colder months when fireplaces are in frequent use.