2 Fires Ravage Eastern Market, Georgetown Library in 12 Hours

The city-owned red-brick market was built in 1873 and designed by Adolf Cluss, one of Washington's most influential architects. The fire there began about 1 a.m. when flames jumped through the South Hall, where the food stalls and lunch counter are located.

Like the Georgetown library branch, the market had no sprinkler system. All 14 small businesses were destroyed.

The North Hall, where artists and craftsmakers set up shop, was spared. All told, about 80 vendors work inside and outside the market, officials said.

Authorities initially said the fire started in a dumpster behind the market, but after further investigation they said it appeared that the flames started in the building and spread to the dumpster.

Scores of residents showed up in the early morning, many hugging as they mourned the damage of their neighborhood gathering place, the city's only functioning Victorian-era market.

"It is the center of our community. This is a big deal for us to see this," said longtime resident Pat Durrand as she aimed her camera at the crumbling roof.

Residents and vendors know each other well because many converge either daily for morning coffee or every weekend. Many employees know the residents by name. The spot is also a popular tourist attraction.

"This is a real blow to the heart of the community," said D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6). "This is going to be a time for us to grieve for a while. There's no reason we can't restore the market. It won't be the same, but we can move quickly," Wells said.

Vendors met with Wells and Dan Tangherlini, deputy mayor and city administrator, pressing for answers about the future of their businesses -- when they will be allowed to retrieve their goods and they will be able to reopen. City officials said they hoped to have more information by today.

In Georgetown, the 911 call came about noon. About a dozen people were inside when the fire started. Smoke soon billowed through the roof and across the neighborhood of stately mansions.

Traffic was closed off for blocks and replaced by more than 20 firetrucks, some idling a block away and others with their ladders extended through trees, trying to reach the library. White fire hoses snaked down and across the street.

The library's archivist, meanwhile, stood at Wisconsin and R streets, heartbroken over warped and soot-covered historic paintings and documents that firefighters were bringing out and placing on plastic sheeting on the sidewalk.

The branch's holdings include photos, maps and paintings of the neighborhood and individual files on each home in Georgetown that have been donated over the decades.

The mood was eerily similar to that at Eastern Market.

Lely Constantinople, 35, a photographer, sat on a stone ledge with her 4-year-old and 5-month-old daughters and watched firefighters. She said children's story hours regularly drew as many as 100 kids. "It was invaluable," she said. "There are so few things for kids in this city before they turn 2."

Suzanne Simon, 37, who edits a food Web site, watched the action with her 9-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.

"So many people just go out and buy books. But it's nice to have something like this in the community. It makes it feel more like family. It will be missed," she said.

Staff writers Susan Levine, David Nakamura, Robert E. Pierre, Mary Beth Sheridan and Elissa Silverman and researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.