Large fire engulfs vacant barn in Southeast, DC

WASHINGTON - Authorities in D.C. are investigating a large fire that engulfed a vacant two-story barn in Southeast on Saturday afternoon.

D.C. Fire & EMS said just before 4 p.m. units responded to a 2-alarm barn fire in the 2700 block Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, on the campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital.

D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said the barn was a 75 by 100 foot, large wooden structure that burned quickly. 

He says parts of the structure had already collapsed by the time the first crews got to the scene.

Donnelly added that the speed of the growing flames made battling the fire "risky to the firefighters."

(PHOTO: DC Fire & EMS)

Crews were able to bring the fire under control in about 35 minutes.

Officials say crews will remain on the scene wetting down hotspots from the fire throughout Saturday night.

Officials say they will search the building once those hotspots are brought under control.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

Approximately 20 units and 100 personnel responded to the fire, according to D.C. Fire & EMS.

Investigators have not revealed a cause for the fire.

Authorities closed down the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in both directions as crews work the scene.

This is a developing story. Stay with us for updates.