A D.C. man has been arrested for setting a fire that injured several firefighters when the roof collapsed during a blaze in Northeast Washington.
Maurice Dews, 26, was arrested and charged with arson and felony destruction of property in the fire that erupted in a single-story wooden home at 813 48th Place NW. At the time, a person was seen leaving the vacant home, which neighbors said had been occupied from time to time.
Firefighters assumed there were other people inside and were making an aggressive attack on the blaze when part of the roof collapsed, dropping debris and fire on to some of the firefighters.
Five firefighters were injured, including D.C. firefighter and Riverdale Volunteer Fire Chief Charles Ryan III, who suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 40 percent of his body.
