“It smelled like electricity, you know you can smell it,” said Christina Lawler, who was in the building Friday.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The fire that destroyed Jim’s Steaks on South Street was caused by an electrical problem, fire officials said Monday.
The fire was first reported around 9:15 a.m. Friday at the popular Philadelphia cheesesteak shop on the 400 block of South Street.
The fire reached two alarms before it was brought under control. Authorities say the battle was difficult as the flames traveled through the heating and air conditioning system.
Christina Lawler was in the building Friday morning opening Jim’s steaks for the day.
“I knew when I came in (Friday) morning something was wrong because it was too hot,” she said.
“I started to smell something. It smelled like electricity, you know you can smell it,” she continued. “So I’m like, ‘something’s wrong.’ We looked up and saw smoke coming down from where the passage is, and the smoke was pouring down.”
The fire department says more than 125 personnel responded to the scene, along with nearly 60 vehicles.
“With us not being here, it’s hard on everybody,” said Kenneth Silver, owner of Jim’s Steaks.
Silver vows to make restitution.
“We won’t know exactly what started the fire until the real electrical investigators get here,” Silver said. “Structurally we know the building is sound, so at least we know we can rebuild it.”
Jim’s Steaks South St. just celebrated its 46th year in early July, having first opened its doors in 1976.
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