A man who was among dozens displaced from a D.C. building set ablaze by fireworks last year has one birthday wish: to move back home.
A little more than a year ago, kids playing with fireworks set a balcony at Oxford Manor on fire, officials said. The fire spread, and more than 70 residents were forced out of their apartments.
“All I had on was a pair of jeans,” resident James Webb said. “No shoes.”
The building remains fenced off.
Webb was relocated to another apartment in Southeast — “It’s just so small,” he said — and waits to find out when he can move back.
“I leave messages; I do not get a return call,” he said.
Many memories of his late wife — records, DVDs, home videos of his children — were destroyed.
“When I think about that I, you know, it really gets emotional sometimes,” Webb said. “But, you know, I’m getting used to it, now.”
A retired federal government worker, Webb lived there for almost 30 years. It’s unclear when the building will be ready for people to move back in.
“I want to go back and really just start my life over again,” said Webb, who turns 74 this month.
The kids who officials say caused the fire have not been identified.
News4 was unable to reach property management for comment.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
