A mid-day fire in a West Philadelphia rowhome left one person dead Friday, turning a quiet block into an active emergency scene as firefighters scrambled to reach trapped residents.
What crews found
The blaze broke out around 12:18 p.m. on the 300 block of North Edgewood Street, and firefighters brought it under control at 12:47 p.m., according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Crews pulled one person to safety from the roof of the two-story rowhome and later discovered a second occupant dead inside, the outlet reported. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity. The Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate what sparked the flames.
Rowhomes and risk in West Philly
Two-story rowhouses like this one line blocks across West Philadelphia, where attached homes can let fire move from room to room, and even house to house, in short order. Local coverage has documented similar blazes in recent weeks; for instance, an Olney rowhome blaze displaced residents in late May. The Philadelphia Fire Department continues to urge residents to test smoke alarms regularly and notes that qualifying property owners can request free installations through Philly311, according to the city’s guidance.
How deadly home fires happen
Nationwide, home fires remain the deadliest type of structure fire. Cooking and smoking rank among the leading causes, and a disproportionate number of fatalities occur where smoke alarms are missing or not working, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The NFPA’s fire-loss data also shows that functioning smoke alarms and clear escape routes sharply cut the risk of death.
Investigation underway
The Fire Marshal is examining the scene, and the Medical Examiner will determine the victim’s cause of death, officials told NBC10 Philadelphia. City and public-safety officials typically release additional information once the investigation and any related lab work are complete.
