PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two people, including a firefighter, were injured after a fire broke out inside a North Philadelphia apartment complex Saturday morning.
“When I came out, all I saw was flames — smoke coming down the steps,” said Chante. She lives on the second floor of the building and was notified about the fire by neighbors who banged on her door, telling her to get out.
Fire crews arrived at the scene on North Broad Street near Hunting Park around 8:30 a.m. and were met with heavy flames. The two-alarm fire brought in 160 members from the fire department. At one point, the fourth level of the complex partially collapsed.
Officials said operations were complicated by the frigid temperatures and wind.
For safety reasons, they performed an exterior attack and had the fire under control by about 11 a.m. The water from the hoses caused icicles to form along wires and rooftops, and some nearby cars were coated in ice. Salt and sand trucks were called to aid with the ice formations.
One person, as well as a firefighter, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
A SEPTA bus was called to the site as a warming space for any responders or residents who needed it.
Chante said her landlord has helped in finding temporary housing, but it’s still a lot to deal with.
“I’ve never been in a fire or anything, so it's a lot. I've already cried, and it's hard, it's hard.”
The cause of the fire is not yet known. An investigation is underway.