WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- By the time firefighters arrived to fight the flames at the Georgetown library on Monday, witnesses say the roof was completely engulfed. Days later, investigators say there was a delay in the initial 9-1-1 call.
"It sure would have been nice to get this call a lot sooner so our firefighters could have gotten in position and knocked this fire down before it evolved into the event that you saw," says DC Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter.
He says a crew doing renovation work started the fire. They were using a heatgun to remove paint at the time. Once the flames broke out, he says they didn't call 9-1-1 for 10 to 15 minutes because it appears they were trying to extinguish the flames on their own.
Upon hearing about the delay, ANC commissioner Charles Eason said, "That's just really inexcusable in my view. I think every advice you get from the fire department is to call 9-1-1 immediately and let the professionals deal with it before it gets out of control."
The fire grew to 3 alarms and consumed not only books but paintings, rare maps, and historical documents that were part of a valuable collection in the second floor Peabody room.
Though 2 of the closest fire hydrants weren't working when firefighters first arrived, Etter says that didn't hurt them as much as that delay in the 9-1-1 call.
The city estimates it will cost $15 to 20 million to rebuild the library.
Republished courtesy WUSA9.com
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