Neighbors came together after Philadelphia fire hospitalized 5
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Five people were hospitalized after an inferno erupted and spread to multiple homes in Northeast Philadelphia. The fire started early Tuesday morning in the Morrell Park section of Northeast Philly.
In the dead of night, as most people were sleeping flames started spreading through a home destroying everything in its path on Kayford Circle.
"It was devastating, very hard," Karen Swanson said. "I'm still trying to deal with today."
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions for the neighbors.
"I woke up at like 3:30 in the morning, I heard someone screaming help me and then explosions," Amanda Wockui said.
Wockui said she could see fire on a back deck that later spread.
"The whole deck was up [in flames], we tried to call 911 and the firemen showed up literally within seconds they were here. And it spread really fast," Wockui added.
Neighbors woke up to the cries for help and CBS Philadelphia was told many people raced outside banging on doors and doing anything they could to make sure everyone got out safely. One couple helped an elderly woman stuck upstairs on a chair lift.
"We were helping her grandmother out who couldn't get down off the steps so Kevin helped her out," Barbara Conway said. "It's just incredible how this neighborhood came together incredible."
"One poor lady had no shoes on, we got her socks and shoes," Conway added. "The other neighbors just came out offering tea, water, bathrooms, clothes. The fire wasn't even out and everyone was being helped the best that they can."
When firefighters arrived, two floors of a rowhome were fully engulfed in flames and the fire raged out of control for more than an hour.
"When the fire department arrived on location there was an explosion and we're only going to guess it may have been a propane tank on the deck," Department Chief Vincent Mulray said. "The fire was out of control for about an hour and 17 minutes."
Neighbors tell CBS Philadelphia the fire started in the back of one home and spread down the row.
We're told one homeowner fell and suffered burns. Five people were rushed to the hospital for burns and smoke inhalation and most have now been discharged.
There were no fatalities or injuries to firefighters.
In the afternoon, homeowners were carrying out drawers, sifting through jewelry and trying to salvage years of memories.
"It was a very scary situation and I'm just grateful that everyone made it out ok," Swanson said.
The Red Cross is now helping three families, a total of 11 people, who are displaced.
We learned many of the homeowners on this block grew up together and then bought the house from their parents.
A tight-knit block truly coming together and looking out for one another during a difficult day.
"Everyone is here to help we'll do what we can," Wockui said.
The fire has been ruled an accident and we're told everyone taken to the hospital is expected to be OK.
