On Wednesday, a fire broke out at the Sheraton Hotel in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, drawing a rapid response from emergency services. The blaze, which originated on the 19th floor, was reported to have started shortly before noon yesterday, prompting the Philadelphia Fire Department to issue warnings to avoid the area encompassed by 34th and Chestnut Streets, as mentioned in a report by NBC Philadelphia.
Visible signs of the emergency were evident, with SkyForce10 capturing images of firefighters working on the ground and black soot marking the hotel's façade, while officials declared the fire under control by approximately 12:22 p.m. Despite the initial alarm, all residents were able to shelter in place as per, 6abc reporting. The fire incident, which appeared to be contained in one room, did not lead to any further spread.
No injuries were reported following the incident, easing initial concerns for those involved. An investigation into the fire's cause is underway, with details yet to be provided on the extent of the damage. As per The Daily Pennsylvanian, the Philadelphia Fire Department Communications Director Rachel Cunningham indicated that more than 60 PFD members were on the scene for the response, and confirmed the fire was restricted to one room and that "The fire was only in one room and didn't spread beyond that room."
The Division of Public Safety at Penn informed The Daily Pennsylvanian about preliminary findings suggesting a "fan coil unit in an unoccupied room was found to be the preliminary cause" of the fire. In the wake of the emergency, traffic advisories were issued, noting closures on Chestnut Street from 38th Street to 34th Street, and on other adjacent streets. The Sheraton, owned by Penn since 1996, was earmarked earlier in the year for renovations, including substantial improvements, to its electrical and plumbing systems with a budget of $60 million from Penn's Board of Trustees.
