An overnight fire claimed the life of a man in West Philadelphia.
The fire started on the first floor of a home on the 4900 block of Brown Street. Flames then spread to a neighboring house.
Rescue crews were unable to reach the man in time to save him.
Firefighters say they were met with a lot of combustible material.
"We found everything, you name it – books, I could see bicycles, I mean just general things, a VCR still in the box, things like that," Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said. "It was typical of a person that needed some other city services."
Neighbors of the man feel as though they have lost a family member. This is the second fire death this year.
Two families, eight people in total, were forced from their homes because of the fire. The Red Cross is helping them by providing financial assistance.
The home where the fire started was not equipped with smoke detectors.
Today at 3 p.m., the Red Cross, together with the Philadelphia Fire Department will conduct a fire safety walk through the surrounding neighborhood and pass out a "Home Fire Safety Check List" in the hopes of preventing future fire injuries and deaths.
Anyone who does not have a smoke alarm and cannot afford one should call 311 for help obtaining one.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:08:39 GMT
An ugly business stained with sex, drugs and violence is exploding on the Internet. It's called sex trafficking, and it happens right here in our area.
An ugly business stained with sex, drugs and violence is exploding on the Internet. It's called sex trafficking, and it happens right here in our area.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:07:00 GMT
A woman says she got kicked out of a Montgomery County mall for wearing a cancer-awareness hat. But it's the language, not the message, that got her into trouble.
A woman says she got kicked out of a Montgomery County mall for wearing a cancer-awareness hat. But it's the language, not the message, that got her into trouble.
Monday, May 20 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 02:20:18 GMT
Mike Kersten and his wife Lisa of Croydon, Lower Bucks County opened their front door over the weekend only to find police telling them to stay inside. A large black bear was spotted climbing one of
A black bear seen in Bucks County is still the talk of the area for residents.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:27 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:27:47 GMT
A century-old community staple in Cherry Hill was up for auction Monday. The Woodcrest Country Club has experienced some financial problems recently, and after efforts from the township and the Freeholders
Cherry Hill's Woodcrest Country Club went up for auction Monday, with a pending sale in place after an offer from a Marlton-based developer.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:13 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:13:26 GMT
The family of the 5-year-old kindergartner abducted in broad daylight from her Philadelphia school is now planning on suing the city and the school district.
The family of the 5-year-old kindergartner abducted in broad daylight from her Philadelphia school is now planning on suing the city and the school district.
