The article quoted a wrong location. (near the I 295 and F and First St. intersection) I know, I know, makes no sense without directional designations, and there not even being an I 295 in the DC area.
The smoke column was seen rising south and east of the Capitol bldg.
A poster on another thread showed an aerial view with the area circled in red. The location is I 695 and New Jersey Ave SE. In fairness to the erroneous reporter, one block over and diagonally to the NE is the intersection of F St SE and 1st St SE.
Also- Virginia Ave, running on a diagonal azimuth with regards to the N, S, E, and W cardinal directions, dies out in both directions that it comes from, due to New Jersey Ave SE dominating the spatial intersection of the two roads.
There’s a huge open area under the I 695 overpass and a large grassy area adjoining local rail lines that parallel Virginia Ave. Also Garfield Park is nearby and may be occupied by some of the homeless in the area.
Aside from the park, the open space referenced could literally house hundreds of tents.
DC streets can be confusing to out of towners.
EX: First Street could mean either 1st St NW or 1st St NE, or it could mean 1st St SW or 1st St SE.
https://www.google.com/maps/search/wash+d+c/@38.8813896,-77.0057597,18z?hl=en
In this dated image a few tents can be seen in the distance under the long elevated overpass. I would venture a guess that the area is likely far more populated now with the homeless.
The encampment is under the I 695 Freeway (viewer’s left). Use the human icon function and drag it to the intersection of the I 695 and New Jersey Ave SE.
Rotate the image until finding the long elevated section of the overpass and down below (use mouse scroll magnification) can be seen the beginning of a homeless encampment. The two power plant towers are to the north (viewer’s right). Image dated June, 2019.