Grand Jury Will Probe Warehouse Blaze That Killed 2 Philadelphia Firefighters
By Mark Abrams and Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia district attorney has decided to take the probe of that Kensington fire which claimed the lives of two firefighters to a grand jury.
In a statement released today, the district attorney's office confirmed that it will submit evidence gathered in the April 9th fire, at the former Thomas Buck Hosiery Building in Kensington, to an investigating grand jury for review and possible charges.
The DA's office declined further comment.
Philadelphia fire lieutenant Robert Neary and firefighter Daniel Sweeney died when they were checking for extension of the fire in a nearby furniture store and a section of the building collapsed, trapping them under the rubble (see related stories).
Funerals for both men were held over the weekend, and firefighters from as far away as Canada took part (another related story).
The hosiery building was a vacant property owned by Brooklyn developers who have title to nearly three dozen properties in the city, many of which they owe back taxes on and have unanswered code violations (another related story).
