A store employee was killed as fire ripped through a Cheltenham shopping center overnight closing more than a dozen businesses.
The two-alarm fire broke out in a beauty supply store in the Melrose Shopping Center on E. Cheltenham Avenue Thursday night. It quickly traveled to three other stores.
Fire officials tell NBC10 that the employee called 911 to report the fire around 11 p.m. When rescue crews arrived at the scene, they were able to pull the man from the flames. He was transported to Einstein Medical Center in very serious condition. He died at the hospital.
A police officer suffered lacerations and was treated at the scene. Two firefighters also suffered minor injures.
The fire continued to burn into the early morning Friday. It was placed under control around 5:40 a.m.
Police are trying to identify the victim and notify his next of kin.
Thirteen businesses remain closed.
