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Had the smoke alarms in the N. 23 Street building been working properly, though, things might have turned out differently, Mayor Jim Kenney's office said in a news release.
“This is, without a doubt, one of the most tragic days in our city’s history,” said Kenney, the son of a firefighter, at a news conference Wednesday. “Losing so many kids is just devastating.”
Fire companies arrived at 6:40 a.m. and found heavy fire coming from the second floor of a three-story rowhouse. It took 50 minutes to place the fire under control.
Heavy smoke and heat made for limited visibility on all floors. Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fire, raising multiple ladders to exterior windows and the roof, and conducting search-and-rescue efforts throughout the interior.
Firefighters were able to rescue one child from the building, but the child did not survive.
A Bucks County family killed in a fire on Christmas also had faulty smoke alarms, officials said.
The "complex and multifaceted" fire investigation will take time to complete, Kenney said. The PFD Fire Marshal’s Office is the lead agency, with vital assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department and federal ATF. The PFD will offer a full briefing when the investigation concludes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the PFD Fire Marshal’s Office in cooperation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the causes of death.
The property is owned, operated, and inspected by the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). It had two units, which were inspected by the PHA in April 2021 and May 2021, respectively.
All smoke detectors were operating properly at those times, according to PHA representatives. However, the smoke alarms were not working during the fire on Wednesday, according to fire officials.
A Family and Relatives Center was opened by the Office of Emergency Management with the American Red Cross and Salvation Army at Bache-Martin Elementary School, located on N. 22nd & Parrish Street.
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