2 children seriously injured in fire

A 6-year-old child was critically injured and a 9-yearold was seriously injured in a Thursday afternoon apartment fire in Southeast Washington, according to a fire department spokesperson.

The fire broke out on the first floor of a three-story apartment building in the 3300 block of Sixth Street SE.

D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the site about 12:45 p.m. and saw “numerous people in distress on balconies” and one person outside who required EMS assistance, said Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman for the fire department.

The fire was contained to the first-floor unit with heavy smoke on the floors above, he said.

A firefighter found the critically injured child inside the burning apartment unit, according to Maggiolo. The 9year-old was found outside but came from the same unit, according to the fire department. They were both taken to hospitals Thursday afternoon.

The fire department initially said a third child had been transported to the hospital for medical evaluation but later said that child was not connected to the fire.

Several other people were treated and released at the scene.

Maggiolo said investigators were working Thursday to determine the cause of the fire.