Fire at M St. Dry Cleaners Causes $100,000 in Damages

A small, accidental fire broke out in the basement of Tip Top Cleaners, down the street from Dixie Liquor on M Street on Saturday around 5 p.m.

According to Alan Etter, a spokesperson for the D.C. Fire Department, Tip Top suffered $100,000 in damages.

According to The Washington Post’s blog, D.C. Wire, the fire began at around 5 p.m. in the afternoon Saturday. No injuries were reported.

According to Jody Kurash, co-owner of Dixie Liquor, it was actually two Dixie employees who first called 911 in response to the fire at about 6 p.m. on Saturday.

M Street was closed briefly as crews responded to the fire. Many ventured to Dixie Liquors, which remained open, for information.

“There was quite a crowd here gathered on Saturday,” Kurash said with regard to the fire. “We got a lot of curious people coming in the store.”

Kurash said that she spoke with the owners of the dry cleaner yesterday but was still uncertain as to when Tip Top Cleaners would re-open.

“I just feel horrible for them,” Kurash said of Tip Top’s owner. “They’re really wonderful people and really good neighbors.”

Kurash added that Tip Top was also robbed two weeks ago on a Sunday night and that the owner had just purchased new dry cleaning equipment before the fire broke out.

“It just breaks our heart to see [Tip Top Cleaners] damaged like that,” she added.

Tip Top Cleaners could not be reached for comment.

According to Etter, the official report of the fire won’t be released until April 8, at the earliest.