Five days after a senior living apartment complex in D.C. caught fire, a 75-year-old man was found alive in the building on Monday. No one knew he was missing.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters that the man was located by crews who were at work to see if the fire marshals could safely enter the apartment complex.
The old man had injuries, which were not life-threatening. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
74-year-old man trapped for 5 days rescued from rubble of DC senior housing fire, officials say https://t.co/U980D9UQvw pic.twitter.com/1P6z9FKcMU
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) September 25, 2018
Structural engineer Allyn Kilsheimer said the man was found trapped in the apartment, adding that the fire had swollen some of the doors.
“Workers had to use crowbars to pry some doors open. That’s when we found this gentleman, who answered when we were making noise at his door,” said Kilsheimer. “He had a sense of humor. When I said, ‘We’re coming to get you,’ he said, ‘I’m not going any place.’”
On September 19, after the fire broke out at the Arthur Capper Senior Housing Center, the D.C. Fire and EMS officials had said that more than 100 residents were rescued from the building.
This morning, I got a call that an elderly man was found alive inside Arthur Capper Sr Bldg. Right now, many more questions than answers. Building owners previously said that every resident accounted for. I’m grateful he is safe now, but outraged at failures that he’s found now. pic.twitter.com/hCe9ApVCRp
— Charles Allen (@charlesallen) September 24, 2018