An investigation is underway to figure out what caused a massive house fire in Germantown on Thursday that killed two people. NBC10’s Lili Zheng reports.
The bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from a rowhome that was destroyed by a fire on Thursday, according to members of their family.
Family members of those who lived inside the rowhome told NBC10 that the search for the two missing people started around Noon on March 28.
A fire broke out at the home on the 500 block of Brinton Street in Germantown around 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 that took over 100 firefighters several hours to put out and the left the home completely destroyed.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
According to a spokesperson with the Philadelphia Fire Department, a section of the back of the house collapsed and the fire spread to the connecting home.
The family said they are completely devastated by this fire.
"It's very hard. The building is one thing. My uncle? That's the most important thing" Tonya Washington said. "He was my uncle in blood, but he was my brother in every other way."
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
The daughter and son of Maria Dickens told NBC10 on Friday afternoon that her body was found. Family members identified the man whose body was found as Mark McKie.
Wadia McKie told NBC10 on Thursday that the structure belonged to her late grandmother and her father lives there now. McKie said her father is okay.
“I feel like, everything happens for a reason as cliché as that may sound. You understand universal law, you understand balance, and this too shall pass,” she said.
Fire officials said that one firefighter was injured while battling the flames. That firefighter is okay and back at home.
The fire was placed under control around 8:12 p.m. on Thursday and cause of has not been determined yet.
A spokesperson for ATF confirmed that the Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force is assisting the Philadelphia Fire Marshal's investigation because of the size of the fire.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
