Neighbors saw the smoke billowing out of a home on the 2100 block of Daggett Street in Southwest Philadelphia.
Heavy smoke, heavy fire concentrated in the first floor, where firefighters found a 61 year old man who succumbed. Four other family members managed to make it to the roof.
"They had individuals on the property on the porch roofs in the front and rear. They evacuated those people and got four people off the roofs," said Deputy Fire Commissioner Ernest Hargett.
The blaze was called in at 1:19pm Saturday. Firefighters were on the scene minutes later, and the flames were under control by 1:35pm.
They worked quickly. There was minimal damage to one adjoining home.
Red Cross is helping the four family members in the house where the fire began, a home where firefighters have not uncovered any working smoke detectors.
"We did not find any working smoke alarms in this property. We urge all residents of the city to make sure they have working smoke alarms, one on every level of the property, and that they also plan and practice a way to get out of their homes in case there is ever a fire," said Hargett.
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, but do not consider it suspicious.
