Massive fire damages grocery store, apartments in Wynnefield

WYNNEFIELD (WPVI) -- Firefighters battled a massive blaze that heavily damaged a corner grocery store and apartments in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia.

The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. Saturday on the 1800 block of North 54th Street near Montgomery Avenue.

Officials say the blaze started in the grocery store and spread to a beauty salon and the apartments above.

Crews quickly went to work dousing the flames. Firefighters had to cut a trench in the roof in an effort to stop the flames from spreading too far.

The apartments were empty, but five families from adjoining apartments were evacuated as a precaution.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to Lankenau Hospital.

It took crews nearly two and a half hours to bring the fire under control.

So far, there is no word on what sparked the blaze.