A fast-moving two-alarm fire tore through a line of row homes across from Bristol Jr.-Sr. High School on Friday morning, sending a thick column of smoke over the neighborhood and knocking out power to nearby streets. Firefighters swarmed the block, attacking the flames from roofs and the roadway as residents clustered on sidewalks and emergency vehicles crowded the scene. Officials have not yet said whether anyone was hurt or what triggered the blaze.
How the blaze unfolded
Crews were dispatched just before 10 a.m. to the 300 block of Garfield Avenue, where they arrived to find flames showing from a row home and quickly called a second alarm, according to 6abc. Firefighters attacked the blaze from both the roofs and the street while working to keep it from jumping to neighboring homes. There was no immediate word on injuries, and investigators had not yet determined a cause.
Damage and outages
Aerial footage showed a large contingent of firefighters on the roofs, with multiple hose lines trained on the rowhouses, and CBS Philadelphia reported that several homes across from Bristol Jr.-Sr. High School were damaged. Sixty-five customers in the surrounding area lost electricity as a result of the fire, according to PECO, CBS Philadelphia noted. Reporters at the scene said firefighters and residents were waiting on further details from borough and county officials.
Bristol's recent fire history
Friday's fire follows a run of serious incidents in Bristol this year. In March, a three-alarm blaze on the 300 block of Dorrance Street killed one person and drew mutual-aid companies from surrounding communities, local coverage shows. That earlier fire stretched regional resources and highlighted how quickly flames can race through tightly packed rowhouse blocks, Delaware Valley News reported.
What to watch for
In the coming days, investigators are expected to focus on pinpointing the origin of Friday's fire and assessing how badly the affected homes were damaged. Residents should keep an eye on local TV and radio outlets, along with borough alerts, for any updates on road closures, utility restorations, and public safety advisories. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
