Man and Three Children Killed in Early Morning Fire
3239 Hartville St, Upper Kensington, Philadelphia
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- Four people, including three children, were killed early Sunday morning in a fire at a house without a smoke alarm in Kensington.
- The Philadelphia Fire Department was called to the 3000 block of Hartville Street at 2:01 a.m.
- In a press conference Sunday, PFD Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said the first engine arrived at the scene two minutes later.
- There was so much fire blowing into the street from the blaze that the fire engine could not get close to the building.
- Firefighters entered the building and were able to get upstairs and find at least one victim still indoors.
- Firefighters believe there were five people in the building when the fire began. One person managed to escape the blaze. They were hospitalized in stable condition, the commissioner said. News reports indicated the survivor was a 38-year-old woman who reportedly jumped out of a window to escape.
- The commissioner said a total of four engines, two ladder trucks, and two battalion chiefs responded. Dozens of personnel put out the fire in about 35 minutes.
- So far in 2022, 21 Philadelphians have died in fires, the commissioner said. Another 38 have been injured and 312 families have been displaced.
- He said due to the speed and temperature at which the materials of modern furnishings combust, fires in recent years have gotten much hotter much faster, creating “flashover” conditions.
- This morning’s blaze quickly reached 800 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The fire commissioner asked residents to call 311 to get a free smoke alarm installed. People can also learn about fire safety at the city fire preparedness site. He also asked residents to immediately call 911 whenever they see a fire.
Timeline
The Philadelphia Fire Department held a press conference confirming four fatalities from the residential fire. The building did not have a smoke alarm.
Firefighters advise that the fire is under control.
Additional updates indicate that the person rescued is a woman and has been taken to hospital.
Firefighters confirm that all visible fire has been knocked down. There is still heavy smoke. One occupant has been rescued and is being tended by medics.
Firefighters have advised a change in location to a more precise address.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3239 Hartville St.
Firefighters are conducting a primary search and have confirmed that all visible fire has been knocked out on the first floor; there is still heavy fire on the second floor.
Fire crews report that medics are attending to a person removed from the building.
Firefighters have extinguished the visible flames, but there is a heavy smoke condition in the building.
Firefighters confirm heavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building. They are requesting additional units to assist.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3237 Hartville St.
Citizen user video shows a a fire engulfing a residential building.
The address reported for this incident has changed to E St & E Westmoreland St.
Police on the scene have heard 10 gunshots near their location.
Incident reported at G St & E Westmoreland St.
The Philadelphia Fire Department held a press conference confirming four fatalities from the residential fire. The building did not have a smoke alarm.
Firefighters advise that the fire is under control.
Additional updates indicate that the person rescued is a woman and has been taken to hospital.
Firefighters confirm that all visible fire has been knocked down. There is still heavy smoke. One occupant has been rescued and is being tended by medics.
Firefighters have advised a change in location to a more precise address.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3239 Hartville St.
Firefighters are conducting a primary search and have confirmed that all visible fire has been knocked out on the first floor; there is still heavy fire on the second floor.
Fire crews report that medics are attending to a person removed from the building.
Firefighters have extinguished the visible flames, but there is a heavy smoke condition in the building.
Firefighters confirm heavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building. They are requesting additional units to assist.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3237 Hartville St.
Citizen user video shows a a fire engulfing a residential building.
The address reported for this incident has changed to E St & E Westmoreland St.
Police on the scene have heard 10 gunshots near their location.
Incident reported at G St & E Westmoreland St.
The Philadelphia Fire Department held a press conference confirming four fatalities from the residential fire. The building did not have a smoke alarm.
Firefighters advise that the fire is under control.
Additional updates indicate that the person rescued is a woman and has been taken to hospital.
Firefighters confirm that all visible fire has been knocked down. There is still heavy smoke. One occupant has been rescued and is being tended by medics.
Firefighters have advised a change in location to a more precise address.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3239 Hartville St.
Firefighters are conducting a primary search and have confirmed that all visible fire has been knocked out on the first floor; there is still heavy fire on the second floor.
Fire crews report that medics are attending to a person removed from the building.
Firefighters have extinguished the visible flames, but there is a heavy smoke condition in the building.
Firefighters confirm heavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building. They are requesting additional units to assist.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3237 Hartville St.
Citizen user video shows a a fire engulfing a residential building.
The address reported for this incident has changed to E St & E Westmoreland St.
Police on the scene have heard 10 gunshots near their location.
Incident reported at G St & E Westmoreland St.
The Philadelphia Fire Department held a press conference confirming four fatalities from the residential fire. The building did not have a smoke alarm.
Firefighters advise that the fire is under control.
Additional updates indicate that the person rescued is a woman and has been taken to hospital.
Firefighters confirm that all visible fire has been knocked down. There is still heavy smoke. One occupant has been rescued and is being tended by medics.
Firefighters have advised a change in location to a more precise address.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3239 Hartville St.
Firefighters are conducting a primary search and have confirmed that all visible fire has been knocked out on the first floor; there is still heavy fire on the second floor.
Fire crews report that medics are attending to a person removed from the building.
Firefighters have extinguished the visible flames, but there is a heavy smoke condition in the building.
Firefighters confirm heavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building. They are requesting additional units to assist.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3237 Hartville St.
Citizen user video shows a a fire engulfing a residential building.
The address reported for this incident has changed to E St & E Westmoreland St.
Police on the scene have heard 10 gunshots near their location.
Incident reported at G St & E Westmoreland St.
The Philadelphia Fire Department held a press conference confirming four fatalities from the residential fire. The building did not have a smoke alarm.
Firefighters advise that the fire is under control.
Additional updates indicate that the person rescued is a woman and has been taken to hospital.
Firefighters confirm that all visible fire has been knocked down. There is still heavy smoke. One occupant has been rescued and is being tended by medics.
Firefighters have advised a change in location to a more precise address.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3239 Hartville St.
Firefighters are conducting a primary search and have confirmed that all visible fire has been knocked out on the first floor; there is still heavy fire on the second floor.
Fire crews report that medics are attending to a person removed from the building.
Firefighters have extinguished the visible flames, but there is a heavy smoke condition in the building.
Firefighters confirm heavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building. They are requesting additional units to assist.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 3237 Hartville St.
Citizen user video shows a a fire engulfing a residential building.
The address reported for this incident has changed to E St & E Westmoreland St.
Police on the scene have heard 10 gunshots near their location.
Incident reported at G St & E Westmoreland St.
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No one is perfect. Accidents happen. Don’t judge people…period! You can’t say “she should have done this” or “I would never have done that” because you truly have no idea how you would react until you are in that situation. People died. Kids died! It’s a tragedy and that’s all that should be said other than prayers!
@MinneapolisUser139784019 her husband told her to go so he can throw her the kids she didn’t bail her husband pushed her out the window she didn’t want too get your facts straight
Mr sincerest and deepest condolences goes out to this family🙏I'm so sorry for their loss and I Pray that the Lord will give them the strength needed to get through this devastating tragedy🙏 I can't stop crying knowing 3 babies lost their life😢 Lord this family needs you right now to get them through this Amen🙌
Stop passing judgement and just pray for the family! Pray that you never have to make that decision. 🙏🏾 God wrap your arms around everyone involved
Alot of so called fire "experts" here. The Adam Theil the Commissioner himself said this was a flash fire. Do any of you passing judgement on the mother know how fast a flash fire accelerates? You have little or no time to get out.
I do 🙋♀️🙋♀️ husband been a philly fire fighter for over 20 years. Takes seconds
No one is perfect. Accidents happen. Don’t judge people…period! You can’t say “she should have done this” or “I would never have done that” because you truly have no idea how you would react until you are in that situation. People died. Kids died! It’s a tragedy and that’s all that should be said other than prayers!
@MinneapolisUser139784019 her husband told her to go so he can throw her the kids she didn’t bail her husband pushed her out the window she didn’t want too get your facts straight
Mr sincerest and deepest condolences goes out to this family🙏I'm so sorry for their loss and I Pray that the Lord will give them the strength needed to get through this devastating tragedy🙏 I can't stop crying knowing 3 babies lost their life😢 Lord this family needs you right now to get them through this Amen🙌
Stop passing judgement and just pray for the family! Pray that you never have to make that decision. 🙏🏾 God wrap your arms around everyone involved
Alot of so called fire "experts" here. The Adam Theil the Commissioner himself said this was a flash fire. Do any of you passing judgement on the mother know how fast a flash fire accelerates? You have little or no time to get out.
I do 🙋♀️🙋♀️ husband been a philly fire fighter for over 20 years. Takes seconds
No one is perfect. Accidents happen. Don’t judge people…period! You can’t say “she should have done this” or “I would never have done that” because you truly have no idea how you would react until you are in that situation. People died. Kids died! It’s a tragedy and that’s all that should be said other than prayers!
@MinneapolisUser139784019 her husband told her to go so he can throw her the kids she didn’t bail her husband pushed her out the window she didn’t want too get your facts straight
Mr sincerest and deepest condolences goes out to this family🙏I'm so sorry for their loss and I Pray that the Lord will give them the strength needed to get through this devastating tragedy🙏 I can't stop crying knowing 3 babies lost their life😢 Lord this family needs you right now to get them through this Amen🙌
Stop passing judgement and just pray for the family! Pray that you never have to make that decision. 🙏🏾 God wrap your arms around everyone involved
Alot of so called fire "experts" here. The Adam Theil the Commissioner himself said this was a flash fire. Do any of you passing judgement on the mother know how fast a flash fire accelerates? You have little or no time to get out.
I do 🙋♀️🙋♀️ husband been a philly fire fighter for over 20 years. Takes seconds
No one is perfect. Accidents happen. Don’t judge people…period! You can’t say “she should have done this” or “I would never have done that” because you truly have no idea how you would react until you are in that situation. People died. Kids died! It’s a tragedy and that’s all that should be said other than prayers!
@MinneapolisUser139784019 her husband told her to go so he can throw her the kids she didn’t bail her husband pushed her out the window she didn’t want too get your facts straight
Mr sincerest and deepest condolences goes out to this family🙏I'm so sorry for their loss and I Pray that the Lord will give them the strength needed to get through this devastating tragedy🙏 I can't stop crying knowing 3 babies lost their life😢 Lord this family needs you right now to get them through this Amen🙌
Stop passing judgement and just pray for the family! Pray that you never have to make that decision. 🙏🏾 God wrap your arms around everyone involved
Alot of so called fire "experts" here. The Adam Theil the Commissioner himself said this was a flash fire. Do any of you passing judgement on the mother know how fast a flash fire accelerates? You have little or no time to get out.
I do 🙋♀️🙋♀️ husband been a philly fire fighter for over 20 years. Takes seconds
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No one is perfect. Accidents happen. Don’t judge people…period! You can’t say “she should have done this” or “I would never have done that” because you truly have no idea how you would react until you are in that situation. People died. Kids died! It’s a tragedy and that’s all that should be said other than prayers!
@MinneapolisUser139784019 her husband told her to go so he can throw her the kids she didn’t bail her husband pushed her out the window she didn’t want too get your facts straight
Mr sincerest and deepest condolences goes out to this family🙏I'm so sorry for their loss and I Pray that the Lord will give them the strength needed to get through this devastating tragedy🙏 I can't stop crying knowing 3 babies lost their life😢 Lord this family needs you right now to get them through this Amen🙌
Stop passing judgement and just pray for the family! Pray that you never have to make that decision. 🙏🏾 God wrap your arms around everyone involved
Alot of so called fire "experts" here. The Adam Theil the Commissioner himself said this was a flash fire. Do any of you passing judgement on the mother know how fast a flash fire accelerates? You have little or no time to get out.
I do 🙋♀️🙋♀️ husband been a philly fire fighter for over 20 years. Takes seconds