UPDATED at 8:55 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Fire crews discovered the body of a woman after a fire broke out in East Germantown on Tuesday, heavily damaging at least three homes and displacing an entire block.
Around 11:30 a.m., fire crews responded to a house on North Lambert Street, near Chew Avenue and La Salle University. The fire was placed under control about an hour later.
A fire department spokesperson confirmed the remains were of the person previously unaccounted for in the blaze. She was later identified as 70-year-old Denise Green.
Firefighters said they arrived knowing that there could be a person inside. They attempted to fight the fire from within the building, but conditions deteriorated, and firefighters pulled out shortly before a partial roof collapse. A demolition crew was called in to help pull apart the building to allow teams to search for the missing woman.
Three homes were heavily damaged by the fire. According to officials, Green lived in the row house where the fire started.
“She didn’t make it out,” said Cynthia Orr, who lives two doors down from that house.
“We've been out there for hours and her children and her family was there,” said her daughter Chantae. “Her and her dogs, no one, nobody made it out.”
In addition, officials said one firefighter was injured while battling the blaze. They were taken to a hospital and placed in stable condition.
Acting First Deputy Commissioner Carl Randolph said officials have been making arrangements for residents while the power remains off.
“PECO has shut down the power, and we're working with the Red Cross to be able to house our people who live on this block, all of the neighbors who live here,” he indicated, “and there are about six houses that have no gas at this time from [Philadelphia Gas Works].”
Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania spokesperson Alana Mauger said the organization has provided support to about a dozen people so far.
“Our Disaster Action Team volunteers responded to the fire earlier this afternoon to meet the immediate needs of the affected families. This support may include comfort and emotional care, financial assistance, access to health services and referrals to local resources to help families begin their recovery.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.