A devastating fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the Terrace Apartments in the Walnut Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia. The 4-alarm blaze ripped through the mid-rise apartment building located at 4931 Spruce Street, leaving over 100 residents displaced. In this article we talk about how Apartment Building Fire in West Philadelphia Leaves Over 100 Residents Displaced – What Happened?
The fire was first reported around 4:38 PM. Philadelphia police received calls that people were trapped inside the burning building. First responders from the Philadelphia Fire Department arrived to heavy smoke and flames coming from one of the units.
Firefighters quickly initiated rescue operations and searched the apartment building floor by floor. Fortunately, all residents were able to evacuate safely and no injuries were reported. It took over an hour for 120 firefighters to get the raging fire under control.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but early reports indicate it began in one of the units. The fire then spread rapidly upwards damaging at least 10 apartments. News video from the scene shows the roof of the building burnt out and collapsed. Several upper floor units also suffered heavy fire damage.
In total, over 100 residents have been displaced by the devastating blaze.
The Red Cross was called in to assist those residents left suddenly homeless. Displaced individuals were offered temporary shelter at nearby Beulah Baptist Church and the Christy Recreation Center. The Salvation Army also provided food, water and clothing.
Building inspectors and fire investigators were assessing the structural integrity of the apartment building and working to determine the cause. Residents expressed hope they would be allowed back into undamaged units to gather belongings and assess damage. However, the building remained closed off Sunday evening.
The dramatic 4-alarm fire delivered a blow to the Walnut Hill community.
The large apartment building provided affordable housing in the neighborhood. Area leaders promised support in the aftermath of the destructive blaze. The full extent of the damage is still unknown as firefighters continue efforts to fully extinguish hot spots.
This devastating fire is a reminder about the importance of fire safety preparedness. Working smoke detectors, building-wide alarm systems and fire extinguishers can save lives in a rapidly spreading blaze. Thankfully no lives were lost in this incident but many families are left picking up the pieces. Community support in the coming days and weeks will be crucial to help these West Philadelphia residents recover. I sincerely hope you find this “Apartment Building Fire in West Philadelphia Leaves Over 100 Residents Displaced – What Happened?” article heplful.
