A 7-alarm fire at an apartment complex in the Fern Rock section of the city burned for more than seven hours Saturday.
Firefighters were still putting out hot spots Sunday at the North Philadelphia apartment complex following the seven-alarm blaze that forced scores of people from their homes.
Thick black smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters battled the blaze Saturday. People who lived in the Grange Manor Apartments all got out safely, but most lost everything.
The fire started in the basement of the four-story complex at 1419 Grange Street at about 11:30 a.m. The complex also housed businesses on the ground floor. By mid-afternoon, fire had spread to a nearby warehouse, according to the Philadelphia Fire Department. The blaze was declared under control at 6:10 p.m. Saturday. Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said one building was destroyed, another heavily damaged by flames and a third has smoke and water damage.
Dave Kearney with the Philadelphia Fire Fighters' Union told NBC10 that recent cutbacks by the city were impacting firefighters on this job.
Kearney said off-duty firefighters had to be called in from to staff equipment that had been decommissioned.
One official from the Philadelphia Fire Department took issue with that point of view, telling NBC10 that it's standard procedure to call in off-duty crews and that city cutbacks had no effect on response to this fire.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to Mayor Michael Nutter. He was on the scene for much of the day with Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. The Red Cross helped about 75 fire victims with their most immediate needs like food, medicine and shelter.
On Sunday, the organization met with fire victims at the Philippian Baptist Church at 5801 N. Broad Street to help the residents secure financial aid.
