Boy Dies, 4 Hurt in Philly High-Rise Fire

A little boy was killed in a high-rise fire in West Philadelphia and four other people were taken to the hospital.

The boy, who was 5, was rushed to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, but did not survive.

According to the fire department, four people were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. NBC10's Doug Shimell is on the scene now and we are working to get more information on their injuries as well as what may have caused the fire.

Smoke was billowing from the North Tower of the West Park Apartments just before 2 p.m.

Fire officials told NBC10 a mother left an apartment on the sixth floor to take trash to a compacter. She returned to find smoke coming from her door.

She and a neighbor rescued a younger child but could not find the 5-year-old.

"The mom tried to get that child. She did her best. She did her best," said Commissioner Lloyd Ayers of the Philadelphia Fire Department.

The fire department says its response was hampered by a water main break this week that flooded out a fire station across the street from the apartments.

The Red Cross is there to help displaced residents.

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