Fire Rages Through Building In West Kensington, Market Frankford Line Service Disrupted
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A raging fire burned through a building in West Kensington Tuesday morning.
The fire started around 5 a.m. at the Rainbow clothing store, a two-story building on Front Street, under SEPTA's Market-Frankford El tracks and next to the York-Dauphin Station.
Firefighters responding to the two-alarm fire were having hydrant problems and trouble getting water to the building, prompting water department officials to respond as well.
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer says, "It was a commercial building. It's going to be difficult for us to get the total fire out."
About two hours later, the fire went to three-alarms. Around 8:30 a.m., fire crews declared the blaze under control.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
A neighbor, Larry Pekoe, says, "We work right over there. We can't get into work today."
Investigators are now trying to determine how the fire started.
Rail service had been suspended much of the morning on the Market-Frankford Line between Huntingdon and Berks Stations. Normal service resumed around 10:30 a.m., but trains were not stopping at York-Dauphin Station.
SEPTA Bus Routes 3, 39 and 89 were being detoured as a result of the fire.
