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The five-alarm fire that gutted a Mount Pleasant apartment complex early Thursday, has the 200 displaced residents wondering what' next.
Displaced Resident, Rafael Trinidad, is one of those residents starting from scratch, but says the community has been overwhelmingly helpful in helping the residents move on.
"People in this area bring everything, food, clothes, everything," said Trinidad
Residents have been calling the Best Western Hotel in Southwest home, but D.C. officials are working to find a more permanent solution.
"The goal is to have everyone who was in their unit come back at the same price," says D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. And since the apartments were rent controlled it is likely the city will provide financial assistance.
The Red Cross was called in to help the 200 people displaced by the fire. Donations are being collected across D.C., some places receiving so many goods, they have to stop.
"A lot of people lose everything - medicine, clothes, shoes, milk for the little babies," said tenant association president Jasmine Romero.
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Firefighters responded to the the 3100 block of Mount Pleasant Street about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday.
The fire was initially reported on the second floor of the four-story building, but investigators now suspect it started in the basement and crept up inside the walls.
"Once the firefight began on the second floor, it was quickly realized there was heavy fire on the first [floor] as well as in the attic of the basement," said D.C. fire Chief Dennis Rubin. "So a significant, major fire that had perhaps been brewing for quite awhile."
Fire crews went door to door to help people out of the building, extending ladders to reach those trapped by smoke or heat.
"There was just smoke coming out of the third floor at that point. I come back -- a couple of minutes -- there are flames everywhere, on the roof and everywhere," recalled apartment resident Amadi Williams.
"I came out the back side and there were flames coming out the other side of the building and freon tanks exploding -- it was pretty dramatic at the time," added tenant Charlie Stern.
Rubin says firefighters got the call after a resident was awakened by a smoke alarm and called 911.
"Thank goodness the smoke alarm did work," he said.
The thick smoke and heavy flames required a massive investment by firefighters. Some 200 personnel were on scene, aided by firefighters from other jurisdictions. D.C. Fire and EMS called in reinforcements from Arlington, Fairfax, Prince George's and Montgomery counties and Alexandria (web|news) city.
One fire lieutenant had to be rescued in the confusion.
"As the firefighters continued to evacuate the folks, a lieutenant did get separated from his company after making a rescue that, without a doubt, saved a person's life," said Rubin. "The lieutenant was disoriented. We had to go and rescue him."
Firefighters eventually decided the building was too far gone. Fire crews were ordered out of building around 1 a.m. Neighboring apartment buildings were also evacuated.
"At that point it was obvious the fire was going to spread beyond the initial address," added Rubin. "We began evacuating the other buildings. That's when the church caught fire."
Investigators believe burning embers from the apartment fire landed on the roof of the historic Meridian Hill Baptist Church on 16th Street, directly behind the burning apartment building.
"There's been some serious damage here," said D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter, referring to the church. The building also houses a women's shelter, but the church was empty at the time of the blaze. One fire house offered it's facility to the church for worship this weekend.
In a news conference, Mayor Adrian Fenty and Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham made references to past code violations at the apartment building. Graham cited electrical, plumbing, infrastructure, rat, and security problems -- though it's too early to know if they played any role in the fire.
"We've had a terrific problem with this particular owner," said Graham. "We have stood by the tenants in their fight to remain in the building, and to have quality of life."
Graham is helping to organize aid for those displaced by the fire. He says Neighbors' Consejo is taking food and clothing donations at 3118 16th St, NW.
D.C.'s volunteer arm "Serve DC" is accepting donations at the Columbia Heights Community Center at 1480 Girard Street, N.W., until midnight on Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. For more information, residents should call 311.
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