Stunning DC mansion that backs onto Obamas' home is consumed by huge blaze

Daily Mail​

20-05-2025

A towering inferno engulfed a historic mansion in Washington, DC 's exclusive Kalorama neighborhood early Tuesday morning, triggering widespread evacuations and a massive emergency response.
The devastating blaze broke out around 6 am on the 2400 block of Kalorama Road - just hours after firefighters had responded to a smaller fire at the same residence the night before.
The three-story English manor-style mansion, reportedly undergoing renovations, backs onto the residence of former President Barack Obama, intensifying public interest in the incident.
According to Fox5, the initial fire was reported around 9.30 pm Monday. It was contained to the first floor and determined to be caused by an electrical issue, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said.
By Tuesday morning, however, a second fire erupted and escalated to a two-alarm emergency, with flames consuming the entire structure. Approximately 125 firefighters and 30 units were dispatched to battle the blaze.
During the operation, one firefighter fell into an elevator shaft, prompting a mayday alert. The firefighter was rescued by colleagues and hospitalized as a precaution, Donnelly said.
No other injuries were reported.
The property is owned by US Navy Secretary John Phelan, 61, and his wife.
The cause of the second fire remains undetermined and investigations are ongoing.
Residents in nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, though no additional injuries occurred.
'Fortunately, the family was not in the home at the time and everyone is safe,' Navy spokesman Captain Adam Clampitt, told CBS News.
'The Secretary and his wife would like to thank the DC Fire Department and the Metropolitan Police Department for their rapid response, as well as their neighbors for their outpouring of support and well wishes.'
The property is owned by US Navy Secretary John Phelan (pictured), 61, and his wife
The Secretary purchased the mansion last month for approximately $8.6 million. It was unoccupied and under renovation when the fire broke out, sources told CBS News.
Kalorama, one of Washington's most prestigious neighborhoods, is home to affluent residents, including former presidents and diplomats.
Firefighters remain on the scene to ensure the area's continued safety. The DC Fire and EMS Department is expected to release further updates as the investigation progresses.
The nearly 7,000-square-foot manor had been owned for over two decades by Stuart Bernstein of the Bernstein Companies, who served as US ambassador to Denmark under President George W. Bush, CBS News reported.