Alexandria apartment fire being investigated after displacing nearly 30, officials say

ALEXANDRIA, Va. ( DC News Now ) — A fire that broke out at an apartment in Alexandria is being investigated after it displaced 11 families Monday afternoon.

Officials said the fire, which broke out at around 3:20 p.m. in the 400 block of N Armistead Street, significantly damaged three separate levels of the building.

Battalion Chief Jack Hoffman said that when firefighters arrived, they saw fire showing from multiple floors of the apartment building, which also climbed to the roof.

People were jumping from their balconies while others were stranded, Hoffman said. Firefighters had to rescue several people using their ground ladders.

N. Armistead Street, between Quantrell and Beauregard, has been shut down in response to the apartment fire.

Officials with the American Red Cross told DC News Now that 10 units, which housed close to 30 people, were being displaced

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about 15 to 20 minutes after arriving at the scene.

Joyce Tshipamba, who lives in the building next door, said she was playing football when she saw smoke coming from the top of the apartment and ran over.

“We saw smoke getting bigger and the windows were breaking,” she said. “People [were] jumping out of the window, like the second floor, and then after that, these kids were coming out with their mom when the fire was already big.”

Tshipamba said it was “shocking.”

“I’m glad everyone was safe though,” she said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

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