Anacostia High School fire sparked on roof, firefighters injured
Two firefighters were injured Friday afternoon while fighting a fire that broke out on the roof of Anacostia High School in Southeast D.C.
Smoke could be seen for miles around after the flames broke out just before noon on Friday. The school's campus at 1601 16th St. SE was immediately evacuated, but no students or staff were injured.
Officials say the fire apparently started on a rooftop filled with construction materials in a wing of the school that was not occupied by students.
The fire reached two alarms before it was contained by D.C. firefighters.
Joe Quade, a construction worker, was inside the school when smoke began to fill the building.
"I was in the basement and...a buddy called me and said the building was on fire," Quade said. "We got the the heck out of there."
The two firefighters were injured when they fell 10 feet while fighting the fire from the roof. D.C. Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe said the firefighters didn't appear to have life-threatening injuries.
In the aftermath of the fire, some Anacostia parents expressed concern about their kids being in a building with so much construction.
"I want to see these kids moved," parent Marvin Tucker said, adding that he planned to ask D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray to visit the school and assess the situation.
Anacostia students were released from school for the day in the aftermath of the fire.
"(We need to) find a place where we can move these kids to and find a save environment for them to finish," Tucker said.
D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson said that a decision about what to do when classes resume on Tuesday has not yet been reached.
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