Fire Engulfs Navy Secretary’s Kalorama Mansion Near Obama’s Home

WASHINGTON – A two-alarm fire tore through the Kalorama mansion of Secretary of the Navy John Phelan early Tuesday morning, prompting evacuations of neighboring homes, officials said.

The blaze erupted around 6 a.m., just hours after firefighters were called to the same residence for a smaller fire on Monday night that was later attributed to an electrical issue. D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly reported that the initial fire, occurring at approximately 9:30 p.m., had been contained to the first floor.

The three-story mansion, which is undergoing renovations, is located near the home of former President Barack Obama, heightening public interest in the incident.

Captain Adam Clampitt, a spokesman for the Secretary of the Navy, confirmed that Phelan and his family were not at home at the time of the fire. “Fortunately, the family was not in the home at the time and everyone is safe,” Clampitt said. He also expressed gratitude to the D.C. Fire Department and Metropolitan Police for their rapid response.

Tuesday’s fire spread quickly, completely engulfing the structure. A total of 125 firefighters and 30 units were dispatched to battle the flames. During the response, a firefighter fell into an elevator shaft but was safely rescued and taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the second fire, and investigations are ongoing. No injuries, apart from the firefighter, have been reported.

As firefighters remain on the scene, local road closures are expected to continue into the afternoon.