A man died in a fire in Northwest D.C. early Christmas Eve, officials said.
Debris in a fireplace started the blaze in the 1500 block of Ogden St. NW, D.C. Fire and EMS said. It was an accident, and it appears the victim tried to put out the fire, officials said.
Next door neighbor Ashley Hubbard and her family ran outside and called 911 after the smell and sight of smoke filled their home and basement.
“Oh, we got to get everybody out,” Hubbard said. “I was just, like, ‘Oh my God, not on Christmas!’ But it’s like, we’ve got to get everybody out. I’m glad I wasn’t asleep, because if we were asleep, I don’t think … that fire would’ve spread and nobody would’ve made it out.”
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When firefighters arrived, they saw flames on the first floor of the building and smoke billowing into the air.
They jumped into action to try to rescue a man inside the home. He was taken to a trauma center but died, officials said.
“At that time, they extricated the victim and worked to resuscitate him, and, unfortunately, he died at the hospital,” D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Communications Officer Noah Grey said. “It’s a very sad morning. It’s Christmas Eve morning, and we lost a life in a fire, and we don’t want to see that happen anymore.”
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Firefighters put out the blaze, and investigators went to the scene.
D.C. firefighters say that the fire started in the fireplace, and it was caused from debris. And they say that this fire was accidental.
“Inside the home, the resident was operating with a chimney that appears to be self-installed, and it was debris from the chimney that exited outside onto the flooring and caught some combustibles,” D.C. Fire Marshal Ed Kauffman said.
Firefighters stressed the importance of fire safety, especially at this time of year.
“One, to have a proper, functioning and operating appliances; to make sure that they are taking care and servicing their fireplaces properly, so that they are clean and in proper working order,” Kauffman said.
Hours after the flames were contained, members from D.C. Fire Prevention Division knocked on doors and provided fire safety information to residents along the street on how to properly fire-proof homes.
Hubbard said the man who died was a nice guy who she talked to a lot.
“He was quiet, he didn’t bother anybody,” she said. “It’s very unfortunate.”
Fire investigators said they’re trying to determine if there was a working fire alarm system inside the victim’s home.
