Frager’s Hardware store burns

A fire destroyed Frager’s Hardware on Wednesday night, a store many think is an “institution” in the city. Frager’s, located on Pennsylvania Avenue, was established in 1920 and remained in business for 93 years.

The thick black smoke could be seen for miles, making it hard to breath in parts of Capitol Hill and Eastern Market. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, however one of the store’s owners claimed the fire began in the lumber section of the store. Deputy chief John Donnelly of D.C. Fire and EMS expects the investigation to last at least five days.

The eastbound lanes of Pennsylvania Avenue remain closed from 10th to 12th Street. The closure will remain until the investigation is complete.

Mayor Vincent gray said he used to shop at the store. “It’s just sickening to have to look at this hardware store, which is really a staple on Capitol Hill, and see what this fire has done to devastate what I call an institution,” he said. “We’ll try to work with them if they choose to restore it, because I know people swear by Frager’s.”

The effort to extinguish the fire involved more than 200 firefighters and multiple district agencies, as well as the National Guard.