STATter 911

Update 9:36 p.m.: The above images are from video shot by D.C. Fire & EMS photographer Vito Maggiolo. You can see his raw video here.

At this hour D.C. Fire & EMS units are on the scene of a warehouse fire at 2144 Queens Chapel Road, Northeast. The location is off of Bladensburg Road near New York Avenue (around the corner from IAFF Local 36's office).

Command ordered an exterior attack shortly after calling the second-alarm.

At 7:50 p.m., Battalion Chief Kenneth Crosswhite, on the scene, tells STATter 911 this is a 200 by 200 foot warehouse housing the DC operation of Coosemans Worldwide produce. Chief Crosswhite says the crews were pulled because of the bowing of the exposed bar joist roof structure. He says there is fire throughout the building.

The building has a second floor over part of the warehouse. Chief Crosswhite says there are exposures, but that they appear to be protected by the master streams and large handlines in place.

Here's how Coosemans DC describes itself on its website:

For over 20 years, Coosemans DC has been providing some of the best specialty and exotic produce in the Washington/Baltimore area. First as Rock Garden and then joining forces with Coosemans, we have steadily grown to become a major importer, re-packer and distributor of over 400 specialty items.

Check in with wusa9.com and STATter 911 later this evening for pictures and video.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 8:00 PM