The above photo was taken by Faizan Faruq via Twitter @fmfaruq
The fire started around 7:45 p.m. Saturday and appeared to have been sparked by an underground electrical transformer.
The flames shot into the air in front of the W and Willard hotels on F Street about a block east of the White House.
D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Pete Piringer says the fire was put out around 9 p.m. and power was restored to the area around 10 p.m.
Neither hotel was damaged.