3 children, 1 adult injured after flames rip through 9 West Philly rowhomes

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Fire damages 9 rowhomes in Philadelphia; 3 kids and 1 adult injured
3 children, 1 adult injured after flames rip through multiple West Philly rowhomes

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Four people were injured, including three children, after flames tore through nine rowhomes in West Philadelphia.

The fire was first reported around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 100 block of S. 57th Street.

When crews arrived on the scene, officials said children were waiting on the roof as flames poured out of the windows. One of the children had to jump from a second-floor window to escape the flames.

According to officials, an adult and three children were taken to an area hospital for unknown injuries.

Latoya Parnell saw a woman and kids after they escaped.

"The lady was screaming because she was burnt. Her face was burnt. Her hair was burnt, her body was burnt," she recalled.

Alea Copeland recalled the moment she came home to her house on fire.

"I come here and a fireman is ripping off my roof and walking out of my bedroom window. It's all gone, everything, I just can't believe it," she said.

The strong winds helped fuel the intense flames.

"Once you get winds anywhere over 10 miles an hour it starts becoming a concern for us. Today, we had gusts up to 30 or so miles per hour," said Assistant Philadelphia Fire Chief Charles Walker.

As we wait to learn more about the conditions of those injured, officials say at least 19 people were displaced.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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