A fire in a large trash compactor Friday forced the evacuation of a block-long shopping center in Northwest Washington’s Columbia Heights neighborhood, according to the D.C. fire department.
Customers and employees of Target, Best Buy, Marshalls and several other stores were forced outside as officials said smoke drifted into the three-story complex in the 3100 block of 14th Street NW, near the Columbia Heights Metro station.
Shortly after 1 p.m., fire officials said the fire was nearly extinguished and smoke had cleared the shopping complex. They said preparations were being made to reopen.
No injuries were reported, said Vito Maggiolo, a fire department spokesman. He said the fire was confined to the compactor.
Update Box Alarm 3100 block 14th St NW. Rescue Squad 2 used a winching system to pull compactor away from building in order to provide better access & extinguishment. Building totally evacuated. Working on ventilation plan to clear smoke. No injuries reported. #DCsBravest pic.twitter.com/LrWVjU4lNA
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) December 1, 2023The fire was reported about 11:20 a.m. in a loading dock area in back of the complex, Maggiolo said. He described the trash compactor as large and filled with so much debris that firefighters had a difficult time reaching the fire.
Maggiolo said firefighters pulled the compactor out of the loading dock to make it easier to reach the flames with a heavy water stream and to stop smoke from going into the building.
A cause of the fire has not been determined.
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