By Delia Gonçalves
WUSA9
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, D.C. — A possible dispute between neighbors could have sparked the blaze inside Sarbin Towers on 16th Street in Columbia Heights.
The fire started in a common area in the 5th floor hallway of the 8 story building where accelerants were discovered. “We have what we would call suspects or people of interest,” said DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin.
Chief Rubin said it even looked like the arsonists tried to block people from escaping the flames. “There was a mattress we found in the hallway that was pretty burned out we think that may have played into this scenario,” he explained, “and we are wondering if that was used as the primary source of ignition.”
On Friday, crews continue to respond to calls at rescue squad 2 in Petworth but none quite like Wednesday morning’s call. “Nothing good happens at 3:30 in the morning,” said Captain Tim Jeffery, “as soon we walked in and saw bloody footprints across the lobby area I knew the upstairs was going to be pretty bad.”
Capt. Jeffery and Fireman Brian Phillips assisted in the rescues of people in pure panic. Fireman Phillips recalled, “The first apartment I went into the gentleman had taken his cable off his TV and tied it to his refrigerator handle and he was sitting on his window ledge grasping at it with both hands.”
That was on the 5th floor, the same floor where 38 year old man jumped from his apartment window. He later died.
Now investigators are working to figure out exactly who started the deadly fire and why. 10 people remain hospitalized including a 2 year old girl who is suffering from severe burns.
About 100 people are back in the apartment.
The folks who lived on the 5TH floor where the fire started are staying in hotels and receiving aid from the Red Cross.
Republished with permission from WUSA9.