5 families displaced in 3-alarm Norristown fire

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Five families were left displaced after a three alarm fire in Norristown, Montgomery County.

The fire broke out around 1:00 p.m. Sunday on the 800 block of Kohn Street.

Arriving crews quickly struck a second alarm. The fire went to three alarms before it was brought under control around 3:00 p.m.

The charred remains of back porches and homes were all that remained on the block.

"It was pretty crazy, it was fire all above the top of the roof, it was orange," said Sean Curtis.

Resident Pilar Gomez says she and her husband were grilling on the back porch when the fire sparked.

"I am in shock. I don't know. I can't believe it," said Gomez.

Fueled by wood, dry conditions and wind - the fire jumped from one house to the next which kept firefighters busy.

In all eight houses impacted - five homes got the worst of it with severe fire, smoke and water damage.

The fire crawled along the homes and ate away at the roof causing extensive damage.

It appears Theresa Johnson's house on the end was spared but she's awaiting word from an inspector and her insurance company.

"I guess God sent an angel because mine is the only one that didn't - it's fine. As far as the roof is concerned, I just talked with my insurance company, I'm going to set up an appointment with them and let them check everything out but other than that it's fine," she said.

On this street full of families, everyone was thankful that all escaped without injury.

"Everything else can be replaced, as long as no one else get hurt. I was fine and that's the way I hope everyone else looks at it and don't hold any grudges, it's nobody's fault - stuff happens," said Johnson.

It's that understanding Gomez, a mother of 4, was thankful for as she and her neighbors worked to salvage whatever they could Sunday evening.

"I don't know about tomorrow, I don't know about the next day but my family is here so that is the important thing, my children are fine, my husband is fine, myself," said Gomez.

No one was injured but a total of five families were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

PECO crews came to the scene to reroute power lines on the block and many homes were boarded.

It appears a grill is to blame but officials are still working to determine the exact cause.