PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — At least 12 people are displaced after a fire broke out in an abandoned West Philly apartment Friday afternoon and spread to neighboring units.
Officials say it started just before 1:30 p.m. in a vacant apartment along the 5500 block of Walnut Street. Wayne, who lives across the street, said he first saw smoke coming from the top of the building, and by the time he got outside, he saw windows in the bottom unit engulfed in flames.
He says he heard people across the street yelling for neighbors to get outside.
“I just feel bad 'cause it spread to next door. People next door’s property also got damaged,” Wayne said.
An all-hands call brought more than 60 firefighters to the scene. The fire was under control shortly after 2 p.m. No injuries were reported.
The Fire Marshal’s office is trying to determine the cause.
Wayne said the unit has been abandoned for a while and is a frequent shelter for squatters, especially as it gets cold.
“I know the front way is always locked. But I heard from the neighbors, they were telling me, sometimes you can hear people trying to kick in the door or whatever. Sometimes they go out in the back to walk their dog or whatever and see the door is open,” Wayne said.