Washington, DC - DC Fire and EMS battled two hi-rise apartment fires within a short period of time on Sunday evening, August 4th.

The first blaze erupted shortly after 5:00 P.M. in a fifth floor apartment at 1200 N Street NW. That fire required a Box and Working Fire Dispatch to bring under control. Firefighters sheltered occupants in place as needed and there were no injuries.

As units were engaged at the N Street fire, an automatic fire alarm was received from 1160 1st Street NE. While companies were responding, additional calls were received reporting a fire on the seventh floor, and a full Box Alarm was dispatched.

Firefighters arrived and found a kitchen involved in a seventh floor apartment, and were able to contain the fire to that one unit. The two occupants of that apartment were assessed by EMS for smoke exposure, but did not require transport to the hospital.

Investigators determined that the cause of the 1st Street fire was accidental, and originated in a microwave oven.