Washington D.C. – A three-story luxury mansion in the upscale Kalorama neighborhood of Northwest Washington D.C. was completely destroyed by a massive fire that erupted on Tuesday morning (local time), May 20, 2025. The residence is located just a few blocks from former President Barack Obama's home, and the fire caused temporary chaos in the area, leading to urgent evacuations of nearby residents and the deployment of a large firefighting force.
According to the D.C. Fire and EMS Department, this was not a simple accident. A smaller fire, caused by an electrical issue, had already occurred at the same mansion on Monday night, May 19. At that time, the fire was largely confined to one floor and was small enough to be extinguished by a single fire truck. However, the fire that broke out the following day was a completely different situation.
The fire that started on Tuesday morning escalated to a two-alarm fire, and the intense blaze, which engulfed the entire building, forced fire authorities to conduct a "defensive operation using large-volume exterior streams." Approximately 20 fire vehicles and over 100 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to battle the flames, but the fire had already consumed the entire structure. Fire authorities issued a precautionary evacuation order for residents on both sides of the affected property to ensure their safety.
The mansion where the fire occurred was reportedly vacant and undergoing renovation work at the time. Public records indicate that this 1928-built English manor house, boasting six bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, had just been sold last month for $8.575 million USD (approximately 11.7 billion KRW), adding to the shock of the incident. With the newly acquired mansion now completely destroyed, substantial property damage is anticipated.
The Kalorama area is one of Washington D.C.'s most exclusive residential neighborhoods, renowned for being home to many high-ranking officials and celebrities, in addition to former President Barack Obama. Its close proximity to the White House (just 2 km) and the U.S. Capitol (4 km), combined with the seclusion offered by Rock Creek and Embassy Row, makes it a preferred residence for the elite, often referred to as the "1% of American politics and economy," due to its accessibility and privacy.
This fire is not merely a matter of property damage but also raises serious concerns about fire safety in upscale residential areas and the state of safety management at renovation sites. The fact that a small electrical fire occurred the previous day, yet led to a massive blaze the next, warrants further investigation. Fire authorities are currently conducting an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.
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