What to Know
- Students and staff were all accounted for after flames tore through Our Mother of Consolation School Tuesday.
- One Philadelphia firefighter suffered minor injuries battling the blaze.
- Students would be learning virtually until a temporary place could be found to hold classes, families said.
The morning after a massive fire caused the roof of a Catholic school in Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill neighborhood to cave in, students and their families were trying to pick up the pieces.
The fire began around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Our Mother of Consolation School on Chestnut Hill and Germantown avenues. SkyForce10 was above the scene as heavy flames and smoke rose from the roof.
An after-school program was taking place at the time of the fire and the building was evacuated. All students and staff members were safe and accounted for.
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"That was my first ever classroom and I watched it just get engulfed in flames," Colleen Byrne, a teacher at Our Mother of Consolation, told NBC10. "So I have no other words besides I'm just heartbroken for everything. We were with about 36 kids and gosh, what, five to seven adults I think?"
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Byrne was working the after-school program with about 30 kids outside when a parent noticed the smoke and they moved the kids across the street.
More than 120 firefighters and medics responded to the fire which reached three alarms. The fire was so intense that crews had to back out and fight it from the outside, according to Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel.
"We've had three or four working fires today, including this three-alarm fire, so yes, absolutely, Philadelphia has a fire problem. In fact, the nation has a fire problem."
The fire was placed under control at 5:10 p.m. However, firefighters continued to douse the flames throughout the night.
One responding firefighter was taken to the hospital after suffering minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to the rectory, church and other parts of the parish.
Officials have not yet determined a cause. The Fire Marshal’s Office continued its investigation.
Parents said the plan was to learn virtually until a temporary location for classes could be found.
One Girl Recovers a Beloved Doll
Parents and students showed up to the charred school building Wednesday morning hoping to recover backpacks or other items.
Most of them came up short, but for one young girl, she was reunited with her beloved doll.
"How are you feeling?" NBC10's Brian Sheehan asked young Elouise. "Good," she replied while hugging "Dolly."
"She means a lot, whenever I'm sad I cuddle her and she makes me happy," the grateful child said while noting she was sad that her school caught on fire.
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