1 firefighter injured, students relocated after fire in Kensington section of Philadelphia
More than 100 Philadelphia firefighters responded to a 3-alarm fire in an industrial building in the city's Kensington section on Wednesday. The fire has since been placed under control, the Philadelphia Fire Department said on social media.
The fire on the 3000 block of Ruth Street sent a massive column of smoke into the sky that could be seen from the Betsy Ross Bridge and across the river in New Jersey.
NEXT Traffic Reporter Kim Hudson reported a road closure on Kensington Avenue at Clearfield Street near the fire.
After crews arrived on the scene around 7:30 a.m., fire trucks surrounded the burning building, which is near the Frances Willard Elementary School.
One firefighter was injured soon after the fire was placed under control, but is in stable condition and expected to recover, a Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the cause of the fire will be investigated by the Philadelphia Fire Marshal's Office. Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also investigating.
Heavy smoke forced Willard Elementary School to shut its doors Wednesday, relocating students and staff to nearby Conwell Middle School.
School District of Philadelphia officials asked families to send students to Conwell, a magnet school serving grades 5-8, until at least Thursday. Though both student populations will be in the same building, each student's start and end time will correspond with their typical school.
In a letter sent to parents Wednesday, the district said, "Students and staff will remain at Conwell for at least the rest of the day and Thursday while the fire is totally extinguished, the school building is cleared of smoke and odor, and the property around the school is determined to be safe for return. Breakfast/Lunch will be provided for all of our students."
Marilyn Vasquez saw the fire from her house across the street Wednesday morning. Her family decided to keep her nephew, Ryan, home from school.
"He was sleeping throughout this whole thing, so me and my sister, we let him sleep," Vasquez said. She added that she was pleased the school was closed because she was concerned for the children's health.
Jamal Whitsett, a father walking through the neighborhood in the morning, felt the same.
"I saw the smoke. It was overwhelming — when you turned the corner, everything was black," he said. "My son lives in an apartment maybe three blocks [away] and he could see it from his place. It was horrible. I'm glad they took the kids out of school."
