Flames and thick smoke shot from a large warehouse and a neighboring building in Northeast Philadelphia Friday morning as firefighters battled the large blaze that could be seen and smelled for miles around and forced neighbors from their homes.
The fire along Adams Avenue, near East Wingohocking Street in the Frankford neighborhood, broke out around 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2024, and quickly spread to two alarms, Philadelphia Fire Department Assistant Deputy Commissioner Derek Bowmer said.
The larger building is a commercial building with an auto shop in the rear that is near the Frankford Creek, Bowmer said. There is another commercial building burning in back. Both buildings were unoccupied at the time of the fire.
“It quickly escalated to three alarms,” Bowmer said as firefighters attacked the flames from outside. By 6 a.m. a fourth alarm was struck, First Deputy Fire Commissioner Anthony Hudgins later said.
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SkyForce10 was live over the inferno as flames and sparks shot from the building as firefighters doused the fire with water. The neighborhood is a mix of homes and businesses -- a baseball field nearby.
The fire appeared to have spread to some trees and cars near the building appeared to burn. Some loud bangs could be heard coming from those burning cars.
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Also, the power was knocked out in the area with PECO reporting more than 800 outages at one point.
The large plume of rancid smoke could be seen (and smelled) miles away. Low clouds were trapping the smoke, making it stay thick in the air, during the height of the flames.
By 7 a.m., the flames had been pushed down and the smoke wasn't as thick.
About 150 firefighters using more than 57 pieces of equipment continued to battle the four-alarm blaze around 7:25 a.m., the Philadelphia Fire Department said.
Road closures in the area continued through the morning, authorities said.
"It was just literally everywhere," a neighbor who said she was woken up by her grandmother and saw the flames out her window said. "It was really scary."
Smoke continued to rise through the morning. There were concerns as firefighters doused the charred frame that the larger building could collapse.
Clarivel de la Cruz told NBC10 that she pulled up to her block early this morning to see the terrifying scene. She said she was on her way home from an emergency visit to the hospital with one of her kids. She is now one of the families who can't return home.
"I was like, 'what's going on?' My kids are inside," she said.
De la Cruz and others were held on SEPTA buses waiting to hear where they'd go for shelter.
A few dozen neighbors were displaced from nearby homes where utilities were cut off. The American Red Cross was helping about 40 people, providing them with meals, snacks, drinks and care. The organization said that residents are being sheltered at Fels High School.
"Residents nearby should stay inside and keep doors and windows closed," Philly officials said.
Approx. 150 PFD members are still on the scene fighting a 4-alarm fire in Frankford. Residents nearby should stay inside and keep doors and windows closed. pic.twitter.com/ToUN9iAB2W
— Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) September 13, 2024
"We'll be here for a while," Bowmer said around 8:15 a.m. as the fire was still not under control.
Firefighters and neighbors said, so far, they are all OK with no injuries reported.
The fire was placed under control around 8:45 a.m., Hudgins said.
The 4-alarm fire on Adams Avenue in Frankford has been placed under control. OEM emergency response staff remains on scene for unmet needs and interagency coordination with partners. Road closures remain in place around the fire ground. Use caution traveling. pic.twitter.com/wifw7He7ed
— Philadelphia OEM (@PhilaOEM) September 13, 2024
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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