Fire ravages home of BX woman who traveled to D.C.

A Bronx woman returned home from the inauguration of President Barack Obama Tuesday night to discover her Williamsbridge home was destroyed by a five-alarm fire. ?I went into shock,? says Joyce Wilson.

News 12 Staff

Jan 22, 2009, 12:51 AM

Updated 5,665 days ago

Share:

A Bronx woman returned home from the inauguration of President Barack Obama Tuesday night to discover her Williamsbridge home was destroyed by a five-alarm fire.
?I went into shock,? says Joyce Wilson. ?My body was there, but I wasn't.?
Wilson says she had been looking forward to the inauguration for months and even slept in her car for three days to witness the swearing-in of the first African-American president. However, while Wilson was celebrating in Washington, D.C., she received a call from her son, telling her that nothing was left of her East 213 Street home.
?Everything I?ve owned all my life is gone, and it really is a new beginning for me,? Wilson says.
Fire officials say the blaze that broke out as a result of an electrical fire completely destroyed the residence at 929 East 213 St. and spread to the attached building. It took 237 firefighters two hours to get the flames under control.
Wilson says she really believes it was Barack Obama who saved her, because if she stayed, she would have been dead. Wilson adds that even though she received the devastating news on one of the happiest days of her life, being in Washington gave her all the more reason to never give up hope.
?I'm just glad to be alive,? Wilson says.
Wilson and her family are currently staying at a temporary Red Cross shelter.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued