A day after a huge fire forced dozens of seniors out of their homes near the Washington Navy Yard, fire officials are investigating whether fire alarms in the building worked properly.
Multiple residents of the Arthur Capper Senior Apartments said they heard no alarms after a powerful fire broke out about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, injuring 10 people and sending a huge plume of black smoke into the air. Instead, residents were alerted by U.S. Marines and neighbors who banged on their doors.
D.C. fire chief Gregory Dean told News4 that he has heard multiple reports that wall-mounted fire alarms did not work when pulled.
"No one heard any horns. That's the early notification. That's really what was missing on this building," he said.