“This punches you in the gut.”
At least 13 people are dead including seven children after a fire tore through a row house in Philadelphia.
“It was terrible,” Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy said during a news conference. “I’ve been around for 35 years now, and this was probably one of the worst fires I’ve ever been to.”
The fire has been extinguished, but there is still an ongoing recovery effort, including a thorough investigation.
“This is without a doubt one of the most tragic days in our city’s history,” Mayor Jim Kenney said during the press conference. “Losing so many kids is just devastating.”
The fire started in the second story of a three-story row house, according to the department, around a kitchen.
Viewer video shows fire crews on the scene of the row house fire in Fairmount that has claimed the lives of 13 people. MORE INFO: https://t.co/R4mWgzZGnX pic.twitter.com/RxGV9KYBNE
— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) January 5, 2022
BULLETIN: AT LEAST 13 DEAD TWO MORE CRITICAL IN PHILADELPHIA FIRE Sources in @PhillyFireDept and @phillypolice tell me here on scene 23rd and Ogden Streets @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/NuQxwpO1c3
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) January 5, 2022
Deputy Fire Commissioner "at a loss of words" following devastating row house fire that killed 13 people in Philadelphia.
— ABC News (@ABC) January 5, 2022
"This punches you in the gut." https://t.co/SpyJ1yVPan pic.twitter.com/E5rSdJhJlj
Visibly distraught fire official on Philadelphia row house fire that claimed at least 13 lives, including children: "I've been around 35 years now—and this is probably one of the worst fires I've ever been to." https://t.co/SpyJ1yVPan pic.twitter.com/jZD7Pd2cst
— ABC News (@ABC) January 5, 2022