As if it wasn’t hot enough outside with 98 degree temperatures, an 12-alarm fire broke out in Camden at about 4 p.m. Thursday.
Billows of smoke and leaping flames could be seen for miles, as a block-long L-shaped abandoned factory that used to house Reliable Tires burned at Chestnut and Orchard streets.
The fire quickly spread to another empty building and some nearby row homes.
By 6 p.m., the fire had already consumed two buildings, authorities say. Firefighters battled the blazed for more than five hours before officials could say it was under control at 9 p.m.
"It looked like the whole street was basically engulfed," witness to the fire Michael Lieze told NBC Philadelphia. "Both sides of the street, wires were hanging, the walls were caving down it was pretty bad!"
Three firefighters were taken to Cooper University Medical Center with heat exhaustion, according to officials. Fire companies from Gloucester, Camden and Burlington counties helped to battle the fire.
At least six familes have gone to the Red Cross shelter seeking help because of the damage done to their homes.
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"It's near our house and we started rushing and once we came, we saw all the fire and we said, 'Oh my God that's our house,'" Angelica Pena told NBC Philadelphia. "I looked and I started crying."
There's still no word on the cause of the fire.
