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.
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.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, r. 14-907