Massive plume of smoke visible in D.C. from Capitol Heights fire

Updated at 9:57p.m.

A three-alarm fire at a roofing company in Capitol Heights, which caused a huge plume of smoke visible from the District, destroyed two firetrucks, together worth about $1.5 million.

Fire department spokesman Mark Brady said thatit was the first time in his 40 years of experience that he had ever known a firetruck to be destroyed by a building fire.

At about 9:30 p.m., Brady said that the fire was still smoldering and would likely continue all night, but was controlled.

One firefighter suffered a minor burn to his leg, and Brady said that there might be additional minor injuries to firefighters. But it was remarkable, he said, that no one was seriously injured.

The fire took a surprising turn early on, when the first two trucks arrived on the scene at about 5:15 p.m. The trucks, operated by the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department and the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department, parked where they had a clear view of the fire, just as the firefighters had been trained, Brady said.

Then the wind suddenly changed direction, sending the fire straight toward the firefighters. They tried their best to hold it off, but ultimately had to pull back, leaving their trucks to be gutted by the blaze.

Brady said that both volunteer fire departments have other trucks they can use to respond to fires. The county fire department pays a portion of the insurance on the trucks and will help with the replacement cost, he said. The volunteer departments also might hold fundraisers or apply for grants.

Brady said the cause of the fire was not yet known. It started in a storage area behind a warehouse owned by a company that refurbishes bathrooms and closets, he said. The storage area contained many flammable materials wooden panels, tires, cars in disrepair waiting to be fixed, sea containers of styrofoam.

It was the tires, he said, that caused the thick black smoke visible from miles away.

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Massive plume of smoke visible in D.C. from Capitol Heights fire