Deadly Fire In Kensington Being Investigated As Possible Case Of Arson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One person was killed and five others, including a child, were injured in an apartment fire in Kensington Monday morning.
Flames broke out around 6 a.m. at a three-story building at Kensington Avenue and East Willard Street.
Fire officials say a man who jumped from a second floor window to escape the flames was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Five other people were injured, including a child who was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital. Alexis Catalda, who says he is the little girl's father, says she should be out the hospital by Tuesday, but his ex remains in critical condition.
Among the adults who were injured were a man and a woman who also jumped from second floor windows.
There was no immediate word on the conditions of any of the injured.
Sources tell Eyewitness News that something here points to arson.
Multiple people on the scene say the building's first and third floors were suddenly on fire in a matter of seconds after a loud argument.
"Somebody firebombed the place," says building landlord Robert Mitchell.
He added, "The tenant upstairs ripped apart the piping and the wires of the electronic fire alarm system on the side that the fire was on."
Officials say 18 people were displaced by the the blaze, which was placed under control in under an hour.
One pedestrian says, "I don't think the place should've been rented out. That's a death trap. There's no exit through the back, it's all closed up. "
Fire officials say there did not appear to be any working smoke alarms inside the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Red Cross says they are assisting 12 people.
L & I is now looking into whether people should have been renting from the building at all.
Sources say they are looking at the possibility of foul play.
