9 firefighters injured while battling 2-alarm blaze in Philadelphia's Wynnefield section

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Nine firefighters were hurt fighting a fire in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia on Monday night when the rowhome partially collapsed.

The fire broke out around 10:20 p.m. on the 5300 block of Hazelhurst Street.

Neighbor Rosa Tunkara said she saw flames burst through the windows and quickly called 911 while moving her car away from the home.

"It was orange and yellow and it was real high up in the sky," Tunkara said.

She said she heard the fire before she saw it.

"I heard something breaking," Tunkara said.

The Philadelphia Fire Department arrived within minutes and upgraded the response to two alarms.

As crews battled the fire inside the rowhome, the second floor collapsed onto the first, injuring nine firefighters.

Video from the scene showed one firefighter being carried down the steps while another was helped out of the home.

The fire department said five firefighters were treated and released from the hospital. Four others remain hospitalized in stable condition.

Deputy Commissioner Joshua McGuoirk praised the outcome given the circumstances.

"One could say it's a miracle. The other people could say they fall back on their training and the training that we have for the firefighters in the city of Philadelphia is top-notch," McGuoirk said.

The fire spread to two additional rowhomes. The American Red Cross is assisting nine people who were displaced.

Neighbor Len Brent said he was shocked by how fast the fire moved.

"I'm just looking at the damage and I just can't believe it spread that quick," he said.

The home where the fire started was reduced to rubble.

Denise Sloan said her 76-year-old cousin lives in the house but was not home at the time.

She said her cousin been hospitalized since January after suffering a stroke and expressed relief that he was not inside when the fire broke out.

"He couldn't have made it down those stairs and out in his condition," Sloan said.

The fire marshal's office is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on the investigation.