Woman killed, another person hurt when fire spreads to 2 homes in Roxborough section of Philadelphia
A 62-year-old woman was killed and another person was injured in a fast-moving fire that damaged two homes in Philadelphia's Roxborough neighborhood Wednesday morning, the Philadelphia Fire Department said.
Crews were called out around 9 a.m. to the 4400 block of Fleming Street between Green Lane and Lyceum Avenue. The fire broke out in one home before spreading to another, fire officials said at the scene.
Fire officials said Janie Flemming was found dead in the home.
Two dogs were also rescued from the house, and another dog was found dead. One person was taken to the hospital.
Two firefighters were taken to a local hospital, but they've been released and are recovering at home, fire officials said. Four people made it out of one of the burning buildings and are OK.
First responders did not hear any smoke alarms in the house, but the home next door did have them, Philadelphia Fire Department Executive Chief Daniel McCarty said.
Butch Adamo has lived on the street for more than 40 years and said his neighbors in the house that caught fire have been there for at least 30.
"It was already in the two houses and I was the next one, and I was just praying that my whole house didn't go up because that's how quick the fire was moving," Adamo said.
Scott Bigos, who owns the home attached to the one where the fire started, said he ran out of the house without shoes. A neighbor brought him a pair of shoes.
"I woke up to screaming sounds and like call 911. I thought somebody was hurt. I looked out my back window and there was all this smoke, so I just went outside and then the family next to me was outside all screaming, and I noticed that obviously there was a huge fire," Bigos said.
The Philadelphia Fire Department also said they encountered hoarding conditions inside the home. The American Red Cross is helping one person who was affected by the fire.
The fire marshal is investigating the blaze, McCarty said.
