When a major fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in a senior citizens apartment complex, a group of 100 Marines stationed in Washington, D.C. ran to rescue those in need of assistance.
The Marines, reportedly stationed only a half-mile away from where the blaze broke out, saw the smoke pour out of the building and didn’t hesitate to take action.
“The Marine Barracks Washington 8th and I” posted pictures to Facebook saying, “Marines rushed into the building to rescue those who needed assistance and evacuated residents to the Marine Barracks Washington Annex where they were checked and treated for any injuries and sheltered until their loved ones arrived.”
https://www.facebook.com/MarineBarracks/posts/1680301342075671
A witness recorded and posted a video to Twitter showing a group of Marines racing to the scene of the fire to provide assistance to the D.C. firefighters.
Marines from 8 and I running towards the fire raging in SE DC. pic.twitter.com/4vSKsuyTGo
— Lyndsey Medsker (@lmedsker) September 19, 2018
The video has been shared over 5,000 and liked more than 21,000 times.
According to D.C. Acting Fire Chief Milton Douglas, four people were hospitalized due to minor injuries. Thanks to the Marines help, all residents of the senior citizens complex have been accounted for.
“We aren’t sure how the fire started at Arthur Capper Senior Building in Navy Yard,” Allen said in a statement. “Firefighters needed to rescue a few residents via window from the higher floors.”
The courageous act from the Marine prompted a response from commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller.
He tweeted, “Proving again, ‘no better friend’…well done, Marines.”
Proving again, ‘no better friend’…well done, Marines https://t.co/rk9y8IMMCh
— Commandant of the @USMC (@CMC_MarineCorps) September 20, 2018
–The Horn editorial team