Man dies after being pulled from burning Southwest Philadelphia home; fire ruled incendiary, officials say

A deadly fire at a rowhome in Southwest Philadelphia early Wednesday morning was intentionally set, fire officials said. Late Wednesday afternoon, police sources said a woman showed up at the department's 12th district to be questioned.

Investigators did not identify the woman but described her as a person of interest in connection with the arson. Police also said at this time there have been no arrests and there's no known motive.

A 25-year-old died after he was pulled from the burning rowhome, police said.

Philadelphia fire and police were called to a blaze in the 5400 block of Regent Street, near Kingsessing Avenue, just after 1:30 a.m. for a report of residents being trapped inside a burning home, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

Neighbors told CBS News Philadelphia they heard screaming as smoke billowed from the rowhome.

"I heard her yelling. That's what woke me up out of my sleep, I thought I was dreaming," neighbor Takarra McQueen said. "I hear her saying something is still upstairs."

Police said the man was rescued from a back bedroom and taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died. No other injuries were reported.

Witnesses told CBS News Philadelphia that at least one other person was able to make it out.

A spokesperson with the Philadelphia Fire Department said Wednesday afternoon that the city's fire marshal's office ruled the blaze incendiary but didn't say how it started. 

The fire was placed under control shortly after 2 a.m.

Neighbors told CBS News Philadelphia that homes on each side of the fire have smoke damage. They also reflected on a tragic loss of life for a family they said kept to themselves.

"If they were sitting outside, I would speak to them, but they were pretty much to themselves," McQueen said.