Christmas Eve fire damages multiple homes in Chester, Delaware County
The Red Cross is assisting sixteen people.
CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- A fire that tore through four rowhomes in Chester on Christmas Eve displaced six families and killed one cat, officials said.
The fire broke out minutes before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 900 block of West 7th Street, sending flames and smoke billowing into the sky.
Firefighters arriving on scene encountered heavy flames and quickly called for additional help.
No injuries were reported.
"They instantly struck a second alarm, which brought the recall of off-duty personnel as well as fire departments from surrounding municipalities," said Chester Fire Commissioner John-Paul Shirley.
Flames spread from a corner home to three neighboring rowhouses, traveling through the attic space, Shirley said.
"The fire wound up extending into three other row homes through the cockwall space in the attic; it was just a lot of fire and crews had their hands full," he said.
Shirley said there were no reports of anyone missing and that all residents were accounted for.
On Thursday, the Chester community came together to ensure everyone knows they are not alone in their struggles this holiday.
"This Christmas, I said anyone who wants to be a part of our family, they can come and be a part of our family today," said Councilwoman Tameka Gibson-Williams. "We have a lot of people here in the city of Chester who would come together, band together, stick together to make sure those families get the help that they need."
The Red Cross is assisting sixteen people.
"It's horrible to happen anytime, but it's especially horrible, you know, on the holidays," Shirley said.
Neighbors watched the scene unfold as firefighters battled the blaze, which burned through the roofs of at least two homes and caused partial roof collapses, according to Shirley.
James Reed, who lives nearby, said he saw the fire rapidly intensify.
"I heard the fire engines coming by, I look out the window, I seen that they had a line, look down here and seen smoke and I went in the house, put a coat on and by the time I came out, it burst into flames. I believe it was like a common roof and just everything went berserk," Reed said.
Reflecting on other recent tragedies, Reed said the timing made the fire especially difficult to witness.
"It's terrible, I mean, so much has happened this week. State police getting shot down in Delaware, the thing up in Bristol, it's always around Christmas Eve... Something always happens. Just have faith in God," he said.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.
