4-alarm fire at D.C. produce warehouse. Story, pictures and raw video.
Image above and below from Vito Maggiolo, D.C. Fire & EMS.
Raw video of fire’s early stages from D.C. Fire & EMS official photographer Vito Maggiolo.
9News Now 11:00 p.m. report from the scene.
The fire broke out at Coosemans DC in Northeast Washington just before 7:30 Thursday evening. About 60 workers were inside the produce warehouse at 2144 Queens Chapel Road when the fire started. Some of the workers claim they first saw flames near the roof and tried unsuccessfully to put the fire out with an extinguisher.
The initial fire crews began an attack inside the building, described by Battalion Chief Kenneth Crosswhite as being 200 feet by 200 feet. The second-alarm was sounded and crews were quickly backed out after a crew on the roof became concerned about the structural integrity of the building. Spokesman Alan Etter said, “Our roof team could actually see part of the roof bowing in, so that’s when you got to get everybody out.”
Coosemans’ workers said there were 8 diesel trucks inside the complex as well as hundreds of boxes containing highly flammable materials. However, firefighters were able to contain the fire so it did not reach those boxes.
A third and fourth alarms were called bringing more than 160 firefighters to the scene.
Coosemans DC is part of Coosemans Worldwide. The company provides specialty and exotic produce. They have operated in Washington for more than 20 years.
Firefighters expected to be on the scene through the overnight hours and into the afternoon. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the fire.
Approximate timeline of the fire:
1917 Box alarm
1924 2nd alarm
1949 Special call 3 trucks, 1 engine
1955 3rd alarm
2020 By this time it was equivalent to a 4th alarm assignment
Firefighters and equipment from Arlington County, Alexandria City and Montgomery County filled D.C. fire stations. Two ladders from Prince George’s County were sent to the fireground.
Off-duty D.C. firefighters were called in to staff reserve equipment.
