NBC10’s Monique Braxton is gathering information about the South Conestoga Street rowhome blaze in West Philadelphia that started early Friday morning. Fire officials say the home’s owner died a year ago and they now believe squatters were living there.
At least one person was hurt in a fire that tore through a West Philadelphia rowhome early Friday morning.
Firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke in a home on the unit block of South Conestoga Street -- near 55th and Market streets -- around 3:30 a.m. and found the property engulfed in flames, according to officials.
It took crews less than an hour to bring the blaze under control, said authorities, who are unsure where the fire started in the home.
The owner of the property passed away sometime last year, leading firefighters to suspect squatters were living in the home and started a fire to keep warm, according to officials.
A neighbor was rushed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with minor injuries.
An investigation is underway.
