'I Was Just Scared': Neighbors Left In Awe, Fear After Fire Rips Through Abandoned Warehouse In Kensington
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - About 75 Philadelphia firefighters spent Sunday afternoon battling a blaze at an abandoned warehouse. Eyewitness News has learned this is not the first time crews have been called to this scene.
"I was amazed, to be honest with you," Jamie Epp said.
An abandoned warehouse fire near Allegheny Avenue and C Street left residents in awe and fear after heavy smoke filled their neighborhood.
Many residents even wore masks.
"We took our mom and father out to preserve them from the smoke," Luis Valerio said.
PECO cut power to homes as emergency crews told residents to stay inside to avoid heavy smoke inhalation.
The two-alarm blaze started around 11 a.m. Sunday.
When crews arrived at the two-story vacant facility, they found heavy fire on the second floor.
"Immediately put all hands to service and prepared for an exterior attack versus an interior attack," Philadelphia Fire Deputy Chief Eric Fleming said.
Fire officials have confirmed that this same building caught fire around a year ago.
"It's more and more homeless people sleeping in that building and I said as soon as it gets cold they're going to start burning stuff to stay warm and in the first cold week, this is what happens. The whole block is on fire," Tyreece Thomas said.
Candace Spearman says she and her three children had to evacuate from their home.
"We were sleeping in the house and then we came out and you just heard fire trucks out the window and see fire. What else am I supposed to think? I'm just scared," Spearman said.
Officials say it took about three hours to get the fire under control. No injuries were reported.
