Officials investigating DC apartment fire that killed two, left 40 units ‘uninhabitable’

(WASHINGTON) — Officials are investigating what caused a fire that killed two people and displaced multiple residents at an apartment building in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday.

The two people that died, a man and a woman, had been taken to the hospital in critical condition, but succumbed to their injuries, according to D.C. Fire and EMS.

Police on Wednesday identified one of victims as 43 year-old Rashidah Denton, of Southwest, D.C. The identity of the second victim was not immediately released.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the deaths as well as the cause of the fire, the department told ABC News in a statement.

The two-alarm fire began early Tuesday on the third floor of the apartment building in Southwest Washington, D.C., the fire department said.

After arriving at the scene, around 100 firefighters were able to knock out the fire and get all of the residents out of the building, according to the fire department.

Fire officials said Tuesday that there are 40 apartments deemed uninhabitable due to the fire. Residents are being assisted with housing options.

The fire department said it will return to the scene to distribute fire prevention information and test all smoke alarms, replacing or installing new ones as needed.

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