A late-night fire tore through a Mayfair triplex in Northeast Philadelphia on Tuesday, killing an elderly man and forcing several of his neighbors out of their homes, according to officials.
The blaze broke out around 11 p.m. inside a three-story building on the 3200 block of Teesdale Street, authorities said. Firefighters knocked down the flames and then found the man inside. His name has not yet been released, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
What crews found at the scene
Assistant Fire Chief Charles Walker said crews arrived to heavy smoke on the first floor of the triplex, which is divided into three separate units, according to WPVI. Firefighters searching the building located the male victim while smoke alarms rang on every level.
Walker told WPVI that about seven other residents were displaced from the three-unit property as the investigation into what sparked the fire gets underway.
Neighbors displaced and on-scene response
City crews helped residents who managed to escape the burning building and coordinated shelter for those suddenly left without a place to stay while officials assess damage and safety concerns. As reported by CBS Philadelphia, fire officials said the blaze was brought under control in a relatively short time, though the affected unit sustained substantial damage.
How this fits into recent fatal fires
The Mayfair fire is the latest in a string of deadly residential blazes in Philadelphia this month. An early February house fire in North Philadelphia also claimed a life, underscoring ongoing concerns about fire safety, family displacement and working smoke detectors, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. As in similar cases, the city’s fire marshal typically takes the lead on determining where and how the fire started.
Investigation remains open
Fire officials say the cause of the Mayfair blaze has not yet been determined, and the victim has not been publicly identified. FOX29 noted that crews remained at the scene for early reporting and that more information is expected as investigators process the property and speak with witnesses.
