Massive 5-Alarm Fire Engulfs North Philly Warehouse
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A raging five-alarm fire that nearly engulfed an entire city block in Philadelphia is now under control.
It happened at a vacant warehouse around 6:30 p.m. Friday in the 2100 block of Lippincott Avenue.
The blaze quickly escalated to five alarms.
"We essentially used most of the Philadelphia Fire Department on this incident," said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel
5th alarm - 21st & Lippincott.
— Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) May 18, 2018
Video from Chopper 3 shows flames shooting from the roof of the building. The fire caused part of the warehouse to collapse.
Thiel says the weather greatly hampered the firefight which took roughly three and a half hours to bring under control
"There were a couple times where we weren't sure where this fire was going to stop. It basically involved an entire block of the city," Thiel said.
Riders on a nearby train took to social media as they passed the scene of the fire.
Witnessing North Philly factory fire from the train pic.twitter.com/WyDaHdnEg4
— Desiree (@desiejj) May 18, 2018
My brother-in-law just sent me this video from his train passing by North Philly #warehousefire @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/CZzfJLF01r
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) May 18, 2018
Thiel says during the firefight they put out a couple of spot fires, one of which involved a converted church. Those fires have since been put out, the commissioner said.
There have been no reported injuries.
Crews are expected to remain on the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for this developing story.