Philadelphia firefighters faced a challenging battle against a three-alarm brush fire in the Upper Roxborough neighborhood on Monday. According to information from CBS News Philadelphia, the fire began just before 12:45 p.m. in a wooded area near Nixon Street and Port Royal Avenue, requiring the attention of approximately 120 firefighters.
High winds, with speeds up to 25 miles per hour and gusts reaching 40 miles per hour, complicated efforts to contain the blaze. "We're going to be here for a while doing what we have to do just to put these pockets out," Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Derek Bowmer told CBS News Philadelphia. Despite the windy conditions, fire officials reported that two firefighters sustained injuries but are expected to recover.
Challenges imposed by the fire's location were intensified by a scarcity of water resources. "We immediately went all hands on deck. As you know, today is 40 mph gusts, winds, no rain. We were already behind this fire," Bowmer explained to Action News. Due to lack of hydrants in the area, firefighters were forced to run hoses through people's yards. One home was slightly damaged, but fortunately, no evacuations were needed. Two firefighters were injured during the incident, but both are anticipated to be fine. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.
