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Crews Battle Multi-Alarm Warehouse Fire In North Philadelphia

By Elizabeth Hur

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze at a warehouse in North Philadelphia Sunday afternoon.

The fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. on the corner of Cecil B. Moore Avenue and American Street.

Nearby residents were forced to be evacuated as crews battled the fire. It was brought under control before it spread to neighboring homes, but residents were still felt the impact.

"I'm out on the street right now, can't get in my house," Ramon Figuera told CBS3 Eyewtness News Sunday evening.

The fire was literally in Figuera's back yard. The smoke damage his house sustained is the least of his concern, however. He's now receiving assistance from the Red Cross because officials fear the building that caught fire could collapse, and as a precaution, they evacuated him.

According to neighbors, the building housed a refrigeration company and, for years, the say the building has been up for sale and neighbors worried about what they saw.

"This guy, I hope he has insurance," says Figuera. "I'm just upset."

The property owner was not around to comment.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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