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13 dead, 2 hurt after fire inside Fairmount row home, sources say
As many as 13 people are feared dead after a fire in Philadelphia as two others remain in critical condition.
Seven children are thought to be included in the group of people who have died as an adult and a child have been taken to hospital.
Firefighters were called to the scene in the Fairmount neighbourhood at 6.38am to battle a heavy fire in a three-story row house. When firefighters arrived at the scene, flames were coming out of the second floor of the building and they worked for 50 minutes to regain control of the blaze.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) owns the home and inspections were carried out in 2019 and 2020 during which six smoke detectors were installed with 10-year batteries. It is not known if an inspection was carried out in 2021.
As many as 26 people were believed to be living at the property which the Deputy Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy said was a tremendous number to be living in a duplex.
He added that the fire was “one of the worst fires I’ve ever been to” during his 35 years of service.
Follow for the latest updates.
Mayor: ‘Without a doubt one of the most tragic days in our city’s history’
Philadelphia’s mayor Jim Kenney and fire officials were visibly emotional when giving an update on the fire this morning.
Mayor Kenney said: “This is without a doubt one of the most tragic days in our city’s history.”
In a separate statement on Twitter, Mr Kenney wrote: “We are devastated by the tragic loss of life–several of whom were children–and my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims.”
“I want to thank @PhillyFireDept and first responders for their response to this fire, and their ongoing work on the scene. We are investigating this horrific incident, and we will continue to provide updates.”
Oliver O’Connell5 January 2022 17:32
Fire spread quickly up an open staircase
Firefighters were quick to arrive at the scene and found the eight people who had fled the building at 869 N 23rd St. They quickly evacuated two more.
The fire is thought to have engulfed a kitchen area at the front of the second-floor apartment and quickly spread up an open stairwell to the third floor.
“Nothing was slowing that fire down,” said deputy commissioner Murphy.
Oliver O’Connell5 January 2022 17:24
Row home converted into apartments
The row home is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority and had been converted into apartments.
Inspections were carried out in 2019 and 2020, but it is not clear if an inspection took place in 2021.
Four smoke detectors with ten-year batteries were installed in 2019, and a further two were added in 2020.
“We’re getting reports that eight people lived in the first-floor unit and this number is very dynamic,” Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy said, adding that the first unit also included half the second floor. He went on to say that 18 people lived on the second and third floors of the row house.
“That is a tremendous amount of people to be living in a duplex,” he said.
Oliver O’Connell5 January 2022 17:15
Fire rips through row home in Fairmount neighbourhood
A fire has ripped through a row home in the Fairmount neighbourhood of Philadelphia. As many as 13 people are known to have died in the blaze, including seven children.
The core of the fire appears to have been on the second floor of the building and it took 50 minutes for firefighters to gain control of the blaze.
A 36-year-old man was taken to hospital with second-degree burns to his legs, according to ABC6. His condition is reportedly serious but stable. At least one other person was also hospitalised.
Eight people are thought to have self-evacuated.
Oliver O’Connell5 January 2022 17:08
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