4-alarm Wissinoming warehouse fire sends smoke for miles
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Massive flames broke out at a warehouse in Philadelphia's Wissinoming section Monday morning.
Chopper 3 was over the scene where large plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from two buildings and several trucks, just before 10 a.m.
"The fire looks like it may have originated in the front of the loading dock area, but that's not clear yet. All of that is under investigation by the fire marshal's office," Craig Murphy, the First Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department, said.
The trucking company, J.S. Fesmire Hauling, Inc, is on the 5100 block of Darkrun Lane.
It's located in an industrial area near the Dietz & Watson building.
"It woke us up. Two bangs, one little bang, and then one large bang," Wissionming resident Roger Crossen said. "The large bang got my attention. Came out -- didn't see anything. Looked one way and said nothing happening on 95. Turned the other way and saw the smoke here."
"The last explosion ratted the entire block. And I live down the street and my whole house rattled," another resident Kristal Swick said. "It's what made me come out, I saw the smoke and I saw the flames."
At least 140 firefighters responded to the four-alarm fire, according to a Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson. It was placed under control at 11:21 a.m.
"The wind was our benefit today because it was blowing toward the river," Murphy said.
The large plumes of smoke were visible along I-95.
Fire officials say a man was injured, treated at the scene and then taken to Torresdale Hospital where he remains in stable condition.
A shelter-in-place is no longer an effect for those who live in the area.
The Philadelphia Health Department says it is monitoring the situation and testing the air quality. The agency says tests are pending, and results will be released when available.
Murphy added the owner told fire officials all employees were accounted for. Both the fire department and neighbors note the warehouse stored appliances.
