Victim pulled from West Philadelphia house fire in 'unstable condition': officials
2 people rescued, homes damaged after fire in Kingsessing
A fire in Kingsessing spread to multiple homes, leading to rescues and evacuations, with firefighters working to determine the cause.
PHILADELPHIA - Two people were pulled from a raging house fire that broke out Wednesday morning in West Philadelphia.
What we know:
Firefighters were called to the 1600 block of South 54th Street around 9:30 a.m. and saw heavy flames on the third story of a residence.
Officials say the fire spread to the front porches of two nearby homes, as more than 60 firefighters responded to the all hands call.
Firefighters rescued two people from inside the property, including one victim who was brought to the hospital in "unstable condition."
The second person pulled from the fire was also brought to the hospital and placed in stable condition, officials say.
What they're saying:
"When I leave home I always say God, protect me, don’t let me hurt nobody, don’t let nobody hurt me, he made sure I wasn’t in there…," said Edna Lindsay, a neighbor.
Lindsay said she was at a nail appointment when the fire broke out and would have been caught up in the blaze otherwise.
Firefighters rescued two people from the burning home and took them to the hospital, according to fire officials.
Lindsay said, "Just messed up my porch, my siding, some holes in the side of my bedroom So, it’s not a whole lot and I thank god for that, but the lady next door I known her for 50 years and her son so I just hope everything is alright…"
A neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous said, "When I get at the top of my stairs it’s smoke in my house, I just ran got my niece, got the dog and ran…"
Residents say the fire has left them shaken, especially after another emergency involving a stolen truck crashing into a school playground happened less than a day earlier and not even a minute away from the fire.
Neighbors react to back-to-back emergencies
Local perspective:
Neighbors say the recent fire and the stolen truck crash have left the community feeling uneasy.
"It’s bad, it’s scary, I’m just hope, wishing, and praying that they be okay; we didn’t hear anything yet, but just hope wishing and they be alright…," said the anonymous neighbor.
The fire comes less than a day after a stolen truck crashed into a school playground nearby, adding to the sense of fear and uncertainty in the neighborhood.
Residents are expressing gratitude for their safety but remain concerned for their neighbors and the future.
What we don't know:
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.