DC’s first responders battle gas fire, water rescue, downed trees

It was a busy Monday night for first responders in D.C. as they dealt with multiple incidents around the city.

First, a small fire burned openly in a Northeast D.C. street ignited by a downed power line that hit a gas unit on Kennedy Street at North Capitol Street, just north of Catholic University.

D.C. Fire spokesperson Vito Maggiolo said the fire is contained and, at this point, it is safer to let it burn than risk a gas spill.

Washington Gas is on the scene and working to turn off the gas flow.

Maggiolo said D.C. fire also completed a water rescue on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast. Crews rescued one person out of a car that was submerged in high water beneath an overpass.

Late-arriving storms in the region caused major power outages and trees to fall down. According to StormTeam4 meteorologist Steve Prinzivalli, there are over 100 trees down across D.C.

Laura Spitalniak

Laura Spitalniak joined the WTOP edit desk at the beginning of 2020. She previously worked at WAMU, ABC News and CBS News. She is a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism and the daughter of a librarian.

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