A large house fire in Philadelphia early Wednesday killed 13 people, including seven children, and sent two people to hospitals, fire officials said.

Officials said at a news conference later in the morning that there were four smoke detectors in the building but that none were operating.

Firefighters and police responded to the fire at a three-story rowhouse in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood around 6:40 a.m. and found flames coming from the second-floor windows, fire officials said. The house had been converted into two apartments, police said.

The fire was brought under control after less than an hour. WPVI-TV reported that at least one child was seen taken out on a stretcher.

Television news footage showed ladders propped up against the smoke-blackened front of the house, with all its windows missing. Holes remained in the roof where firefighters had broken through.

"I knew some of those kids -- I used to see them playing on the corner,” said Dannie McGuire, 34, fighting back tears as she and Martin Burgert, 35, stood in the doorway of a home around the corner. They had lived there for a decade, she said, “and some of those kids have lived here as long as us.”

“I can’t picture how more people couldn’t get out -- jumping out a window,” she said.

“Losing so many kids is just devastating,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Keep these babies in your prayers.”

Share:
More In Culture
Potential Legal Consequences Of 'Rust' On-Set Shooting
Could Alec Baldwin face legal consequences after accidentally shooting and killing a cinematographer on the set of 'Rust'? That's a question many in Hollywood are asking after the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. Some in the industry are even asking for a ban on guns on the set of films and television shows. Dan Gilleon, lead trial attorney at the Gilleon Law Firm, discusses the potential legal consequences for all involved in the accident, saying "everyone will be sued."
Behind the Record-Shattering Halloween Spending
Deacon Hayes, founder of Well Kept Wallet, joins "Cheddar Reveals" to discuss how 2021 Halloween spending compares to previous years and how to best prepare for the influx of holiday spending.
A Look At the Iconic M&M Candy
Tim LeBel, President of Sales and Chief Halloween Officer at Mars Wrigley, joins 'Cheddar Reveals' to discuss the M&M's 80th birthday, what goes into maintaining an iconic brand, and how Mars Wrigley plans for future Halloweens.
The Makings of an Iconic Candy; Behind the Record-Setting Halloween Spending
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Tim LeBel, President of Sales and Chief Halloween Officer at Mars Wrigley, discusses the M&M's 80th birthday, what goes into maintaining an iconic brand, and how Mars Wrigley plans for future Halloweens.; Deacon Hayes, founder of Well Kept Wallet, joins to break down how 2021 Halloween spending compares to previous years and how to best prepare for the influx of holiday spending.; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Witches: A Century of Murders.'
The Real Reason We Check Our Halloween Candy
If you went trick-or-treating as a child, did your parents warn you against the possibility of poisoned candy? Did they forbid you from trying anything before they inspected your Halloween haul? We asked some experts from The Conversation to explain the fanciful origins of this annual panic and its very real consequences. Stay tuned to discover the real dangers lurking on Halloween night…
UN Report: Countries "Nowhere Near" Ambition Needed To Limit Climate Change
According to the latest report from the UN, several countries around the world are "nowhere near" towards their goal of limiting gas emissions. This report comes ahead of the COP26 which is slated to take place in the month of November in Scotland. Senior Advisor at CDP Paula Diperna, joined Cheddar to discuss what the report highlights and what this tells us about the future plans of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Load More