A tragic incident occurred in the Harrowgate neighborhood near Kensington on Friday morning, resulting in the death of an elderly woman, injuring two others, and displacing a total of 13 people.
The fire originated in a rowhouse on the 1800 block of East Russell Street at around 4:30 a.m. It quickly spread to four neighboring homes on both sides of the rowhouse, causing chaos and destruction.
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Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to rescue residents who were trapped on rooftops. Tragically, the elderly woman was found on the second floor of the original home where the fire started.
Two injured individuals were treated for non-life-threatening injuries by medics. As of now, the woman’s identity has not been disclosed. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army are providing support to those affected by the fire, as reported by NBC10.
Philadelphia Assistant Fire Chief Charles Walker revealed to NBC10 that the exact number of residents in the burnt home is unknown, but what’s certain is that there were no working smoke detectors present. The absence of such a crucial safety measure is truly concerning.
Further complicating the situation, police mentioned that an individual has been arrested in connection to the fire. However, it remains unclear how this arrest is related to the incident. As authorities delve deeper into the matter, the cause of the fire continues to be investigated.