PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – Four people died in a house fire early Sunday morning in Kensington.
Firefighters arrived in strong flames coming out of the house, not much left.
Derek Bowmer, executive director of the Philadelphia Fire Department, said three minors and an elderly man had died in the blaze.
The fire broke out shortly after 2:00 a.m. Sunday on Block 3200 on Hartville Street.
#BREAKING Officials say three children died this morning after a fire broke out on 3,200 blocks on Hartville Street in Kensington.
A 38-year-old woman has burns and was taken to Temple Hospital.
Fire Marshall and ATF are investigating. @ 6abc pic.twitter.com/ZBySVGIj0D
– Brianna Gallagher (@BGallagherTV) April 24, 2022
“Our men and women from the fire department made a valiant effort to try to save here, unfortunately we have a tragedy that ended this morning,” Bowmer said.
Despite the strong PFD response, Kensington this morning was devastating. Please keep the community and our members in mind. pic.twitter.com/1d66QItzfH
– Fire in Philadelphia (@PhillyFireDept) April 24, 2022 A 38-year-old woman managed to escape the flames and jumped out the window. She was taken to Temple Hospital to be treated for burns.
According to principal Charlotte Gillam-Maddox, who spoke at a news conference held by firefighters on Sunday afternoon, two of the children attended Lewis Elkin Elementary School.
Action News spoke with a neighbor who said he lost his best friend in the fire.
“I said where my best friend was, I said, are you kidding, are you sure he’s back there because the house is on fire, I can’t go in there,” said Angel Rivera, a neighbor.
Rivera said he spoke to the woman before she was taken to hospital, he described her body as badly burned.
“He told her to get out by jumping out the window and I’ll go out with the kids … you know those were his last words,” Rivera said as he described his conversation with the woman.
Rivera was mad and could not understand the tragedy in his block. One woman tells us that her husband is the male brother who failed, he was too shaken to speak.
“Life is short, you know, so if you have kids, hug them, appreciate them because you never know,” Rivera said.
Officials said the house had no working smoke detectors, and they encouraged anyone without working smoke detectors to call 311. They would go out and install them.
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