Watch CBS News

Part Of Row Home Collapses In West Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Several people narrowly escaped injury Wednesday morning when part of a home collapsed in West Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Fire officials say the rear portion of a home on South Ruby Street, near 54th and Market Streets, collapsed just before 5 a.m.

A couple was inside, on the first floor, when their cat started to act strangely. Fire officials say the man started following the cat around the house and heard some weird creaking. His wife was asleep upstairs at the time and had just gotten out of bed when she heard the creaking, as well.

The couple was able to escape thanks to a couple of strangers. The good Samaritans say they were just getting home when they saw the home and climbed the rubble to get the two out to safety.

"There was still debris falling out while we were helping them out. I wasn't really thinking about my own safety at that point in time. I was just making sure there weren't any kids or elderly people in there," said one of the good Samaritans.

Luckily, everyone who lives in the home was accounted for after the collapse and there were no reported injuries.

The row home had a mural called "I Wanna Call You Names" painted on the left side of the building. But when the rear of the house collapsed, much of the wall with the mural came crashing down with it.

The Fire Battalion Chief tells Eyewitness News there have been two houses, one on each side of the home, that have been demolished. This appears to have caused a lack of structural stability.

The owner also told the Fire Battalion Chief that no insurance company would insure their home due to the issues.

L&I is investigating the cause of the collapse.

The home is very close to SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line, but the transit agency says the collapse will not cause any disruptions of service. However, the Route 31 bus is being detoured around the scene.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.