D.C. Blaze Displaces Nearly 200

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Fire Destroyed Mount Pleasant Apartment Building

A major fire a year ago today ravaged a Mount Pleasant apartment building, displacing nearly 200 people. The five-alarm blaze was the worst D.C. had seen in about 30 years, firefighters said.

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Records from the DCRA's tracking system show that the property has been cited for more than 7,100 housing code violations since 2004, more than any other building in the city. The complaints cited such problems as broken heating system, holes in walls and ceilings, and leaking pipes. No violations were cited since January 2007, records show.

Michael Rupert, a DCRA spokesman, said that the agency spent $60,000 to get repairs moving. He said renovations last year fixed the remaining problems. The agency closed its case in May after finding that the problems had been or were being fixed.

"This is one building that had a ton of follow-up," Rupert said.

Residents also filed lawsuits about conditions and rate increases. They have complained about rat and bug infestations, mold, water damage, plumbing failures, unstable cabinets and flooring, and lax security.

In those cases, there also were signs of a turnaround, with attorneys on both sides recently filing papers in D.C. Superior Court that said a settlement was in the works. An agreement was to be signed as early as next week, with promises to keep up repairs and stabilize rents.

A lawyer for Deauville Partners, Thomas J. Murphy, did not return telephone messages yesterday. One of the building's owners, Eric Kretschman, who lives in the Philadelphia area, also did not return calls.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) said he plans to schedule a meeting tomorrow with residents to discuss their needs. He promised to work with the building's owner to ensure that the property is rehabilitated "with affordable housing for the people who lived in it previous to the fire."

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said the problems at the building were typical of those described in a Washington Post investigative series about landlords who allow their buildings to deteriorate as a way to force low-paying tenants to leave. Once vacant, the buildings are then converted to higher-priced residences.

"This is the classic example of eviction by neglect," said Graham, who has worked on various issues with tenants for years.

D.C. Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin said that authorities suspect the fire started in the basement and that the investigation is continuing. Authorities were not able to do a thorough investigation yesterday because part of the building was structurally unsound.

About 200 firefighters, including 50 from other jurisdictions, battled the blaze. Five D.C. firefighters reported that they were trapped by flames or smoke, Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence Schultz said. Officials were able to direct three firefighters to safety. The other two were rescued, including one who was pulled out of a fourth-floor window. He suffered smoke inhalation and was treated at a hospital.

It took about three hours to bring the fire under control.