This archive report was first published on 5 January 2022.
On January 5, 2022, a fatal fire ravaged a rowhouse in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The Philadelphia Fire Department responded to a call at 6:38 a.m. on the 800 block of North 23rd Street, where they encountered a house engulfed in flames.
According to Officer Eric McLaurin, a spokesman for the Police Department, the fire overwhelmed a house that had been converted into two apartments.
"You just pray for all involved," Officer McLaurin said. "It's a bad situation."
The Fire Department took 50 minutes to bring the fire under control, but the damage was already done.