A fire damaged restaurants in Georgetown Wednesday afternoon, D.C. Fire and EMS said.
When firefighters reached Hook Restaurant in the 3200 block of M Street NW after 12:30 p.m., they found heavy smoke and fire showing from the upper floors of the building, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. Initially, firefighters had trouble accessing the fire in the rear of the building, and a second alarm was rung as a precaution, fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said. Firefighters needed about 10-15 minutes to knock down the bulk of the fire.
M Street was closed from Wisconsin Avenue to Key Bridge for several hours, causing significant traffic delays in the area.
No injuries were reported.
Georgetown Cupcake and most nearby establishments are OK, but neighboring Tackle Box and Saloun sustained some smoke and water damage, according to D.C. Fire and EMS.
Jonathan Umbel, the owner of Tackle Box and Hook, believes the fire started behind the restaurants in the Hook loading dock.
"The most important thing to me is that our patrons and staff are safe and no one was harmed," Umbel said.
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Both restaurants will be closed indefinitely for repairs, Umbel said.
"Tackle Box's Cleveland Park location will be open for business, and we ask our fans to support our brand so that we may be back on our feet in Georgetown soon," he said.
There is no official word on a cause.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details as they become available.
