Fire Tears Through Several Rowhomes In Cobbs Creek
By Anita Oh
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Fire ripped through several rowhomes overnight in the Cobbs Creek section of Philadelphia, injuring two people and leaving dozens of others feeling grateful to be alive.
The fire broke out around 1 a.m. Saturday at a home along the 5800 block of Larchwood Avenue and quickly spread to three neighboring homes.
"I just heard people yelling, 'get out! get out!, fire,! fire!,'" said neighbor Antionette Thompson. "It came like whoosh!"
Flames tore through the four rowhomes and damaged a dozen others.
"I ran outside," said neighbor Najma Williams. "I saw flames just spread into each house."
Emergency responders took two injured people to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- but everyone made it out alive.
Neighbors say their tight-knit block is to thank.
"I began banging on people's doors," said neighbor Nazeeha Johnes. "The fire began spreading really fast, so I ran from house to house and the fire just followed me."
Even luckier, they said, is that the fire appears to have sparked at an empty home. Neighbors said the family that lived inside had been recently evicted and moved their belongings from inside just several hours before this fire started. Piles of trash and old furniture could still be seen littering the side of the street.
As restoration crews worked to repair the damage to surrounding homes, those who live on the block said the embers could have ended with tragedy. Instead, anything they've lost can be replaced.
"We still have a house. I'm blessed. The only thing is damage on the outside. We're still living. That's my main concern right now."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.