Four children died and dozens of residents were displaced after a fire raced through a row of two-story homes in southwest Philadelphia early Saturday, officials said, alleging that it may have started in a couch sitting on a porch. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The blaze began shortly before 3 a.m. and was brought under control in about an hour, fire officials said. At least eight row homes were completely damaged, leaving behind only charred frames, the Associated Press reported. The victims were identified by a fire department dispatcher as a 1-month-old baby boy, 4-year-old twin girls and a 4-year-old boy, according to WPVI. Two 11-year-old girls also suffered smoke inhalation.
All the victims were found in the same house where the fire started. "This is a tragic, tragic day for the city of Philadelphia. Tragic. We lost four children today. And I want everybody to understand that fire is everyone's fight. Not just the fire department. It's everyone's fight," Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer said.
According to preliminary investigation, authorities believe that the fire was started on the porch in a couch. Jeff Boone, 27-year-old neighbor, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he saw a couch on fire on the porch of a house about five doors down from his residence and heard children screaming. The flames spread across porches so fast, he said, that "it looked like someone had a flamethrower and just shot it all across."
At least 10 people were inside the home at the time of the fire, and not all of them were residents, according to Sawyer. A family member was reportedly babysitting the children. Five people, including two minors under the age of 13, were immediately transported to a local hospital, CNN reported.
A neighbor whose home was destroyed in the blaze said the victims were "good children." "They didn't deserve this. No one expects this. It's hurting everyone," Jaka Kaba said.
At least 42 people were displaced and a shelter had been set up for people at Bertram High School, according to Sawyer.
