Cat dies in D.C. houseboat fire

Fire officials say a cat has died in a fire at a houseboat in southwest Washington.

D.C. fire and EMS department spokesman Pete Piringer says authorities were called to the 600 block of Water Street, where they found a 50-foot houseboat on fire. Piringer says firefighters found significant fire and smoke in the master suite of the boat.

He says they quickly put out the blaze, but the boat was badly damaged and a cat belonging to the family that lives on the boat died.

Piringer says it appears the fire began near an air conditioning unit and was accidental. No one was injured.

-- Associated Press