40 people displaced, 10 homes damaged after 2-alarm fire in Norristown
NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A dangerous two-alarm fire in a multi-unit residence displaced 40 people right before Thanksgiving.
The fire was called in about 2:45 Wednesday afternoon, on the 700 block of Lafayette Street in Norristown, according to authorities.
Skyfox was over the location where smoke could be seen pouring from the roof of the structure as firefighters worked to contain the flames.
A second alarm was activated within a short time of crews arriving.
No injuries were reported and officials said all occupants made it out of the building safely.
Ralph Latshaw and his wife had plans to visit his mother’s home on Thanksgiving for dinner, but they instead got a call Wednesday afternoon because of the fire. Dolly Latshaw’s home caught fire and soon after, the house next door had flames shooting out of one second-floor window, then, moments later, out of two windows.
Flames then quickly spread, eventually damaging 10 homes and putting 40 people out in the night.
Latshaw learned his mother was in good hands and safe, thanks to her neighbors across the street, who call her the matriarch of the block.
Neighbor Bernon Perry said, "I started knocking on every door on the block, banging, banging, getting everybody out of their houses cause the flames started going fast up to the roof and it just caught so quick."
Another neighbor, Sietta Lindsey, stated, "He started screaming, ‘Get out! Get out the house!’ So we assisted other residents, knocking on doors."
Dolly and all 10 of her rescue and foster pets – Oreo, the dog and nine foster cats - got out safely.
Steve Keeley asked neighbor Robert Gallagher, "So, you saved all the cats she was fostering?"
"Yes," he replied.
Latshaw continued, "They got out in plenty of time. And all the neighbors took care of her till I got here."
Perry remarked, "The holiday's tomorrow. Your heart goes out to people, like why? It’s a tragedy."
Dolly’s daughter-in-law, Alicia, put it perfectly as the holiday weekend got off to a terrible start, but nowhere near as bad as it could have been, seeing how the flames spread so far so fast and thankful that her terrific neighbors moved even faster to make sure everyone got out alive and unhurt.
"Happy because everyone is here, but sad cause we were gonna have Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law’s house, so bittersweet," Alicia Latshaw stated.
Crews got the fire under control a little before 5 p.m.
The Red Cross is working with families to help them with supplies in the days ahead.
No cause was reported.