14 DCMR § 14-907
REPORT OF FIRES
Operative Text
907.1 Whenever a fire occurs in any residential building of any kind, except a private dwelling, it shall be the duty of the owner, manager, or person in control of that building, upon discovery of a fire, or evidence of there having been a fire (even though it has apparently been extinguished) immediately to cause notice of the existence of the fire, circumstances of the fire, and the location of the fire, to be given to the Fire Department. 907.2 This requirement shall not be construed to forbid the owner, manager, or person in control of the building from using all diligence necessary to extinguish the fire prior to the arrival of the Fire Department.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-907, whenever a fire occurs—or evidence of a past fire is discovered—in a residential building other than a private dwelling, the owner, manager, or person in control of that building must immediately notify the Fire Department of the fire's existence, circumstances, and location. The rule applies even if the fire appears to have already been extinguished by the time it is discovered. Separately, § 14-907 makes clear that this reporting obligation does not prevent responsible parties from taking reasonable steps to put out the fire before firefighters arrive.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers of residential buildings covered by D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-907 generally maintain protocols that ensure the Fire Department is contacted immediately upon any discovery of a fire or signs of a recent fire, regardless of whether the fire seems to be out. Compliant operators typically designate staff responsibilities for making that notification and document the circumstances and location of any fire incident. Attempting to extinguish a fire before firefighters arrive is permitted under § 14-907, but that effort does not replace or delay the required notification.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-907 establishes a duty that falls on building owners, managers, or those in control of a residential property—not on tenants—to report fires or evidence of fires to the Fire Department without delay. Tenants who believe a building's management failed to fulfill this reporting obligation may consider documenting the incident and reaching out to the District of Columbia's relevant housing or fire safety authorities to raise a concern. Tenant-rights organizations in the District can help residents understand what options may be available when a building's management does not appear to be meeting its obligations under § 14-907.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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