Exclusive: Interview With Peggy Cooper Cafritz After A Fire Destroyed Her Home Last Week

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Peggy Cooper Cafritz says she can't put her arms around the fire just yet.

A blaze destroyed her mansion and priceless art collection last week while the former School Board President and her children were vacationing on Martha's Vineyard.

Cafritz is staying with neighborhood friends, meeting with insurance adjusters and city officials, all while occasionally watching the crane that is ripping down the rest of her home.

"I'm concerned about my children and the artists" she said.

Since 1968, Cafritz has been collecting African art and more recently Latin and Asian art. She's hosted countless social and political gatherings.

"I'm going to miss being able to share the house with DC residents. It was never just our house," said Cafritz.

The financial losses from the mansion and the art are expected to calculate into the millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the fire department is investigating the cause of the fire, and Mayor Adrian Fenty has ordered reports from fire officials and WASA officials on why firefighters could not get adequate water pressure and volume from hydrants in the Chain Bridge Road area. The water pressure problems causing serious delay in fighting the Cafritz mansion fire.

Sources tell 9NEWS NOW that WASA had four reports of low water pressure in the area in the past year. At least two hydrants are clearly marked out of service.