He said “everyone’s eyes roll” during fire safety announcements but he encouraged people to pay attention after this incident.
Thiel said people should be careful with real Christmas trees and make sure they are watered regularly. He also said people should “get rid of the tree” sooner rather than later.
He added people should call 9-1-1 “if they have any inkling there is a fire.”
“Every second counts,” he said and sometimes the fire department won’t be alerted even if the smoke alarm sounds.
Thiel said the Fairmont fire was “really fast-moving and difficult.”
“Fire conditions were not what you see on television,” he said. “There was zero visibility, high heat - and by high heat, I’m talking about 900 to 1,000 degrees at the ceiling, toxic smoke filling the entire building.”
Clarke said there needs to be long term solutions to update fire safety measure in old buildings and do more to address the city’s lack of affordable housing.
He added that people should not “point fingers” at the family for their intergenerational living situation.
Mayor Jim Kenney said it has long been a custom of immigrant families to have live with multiple extended family members under one roof.
“Relatives take people in, that’s what they do,” he said. “There should be no judgement.”
Kelvin Jeremiah, the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), said his highest priority is to meet the needs of the surviving victims.
This means it was not accidental and there was “some human intervention.”
However, Thiel noted that other agencies might classify this fire as accidental because different agencies have different classification of incendiary and accidental.
He said everyone saw reports that the five-year-old child started the fire but would not confirm that fact.
Thiel said the investigation was an “attempt to disprove the way lighter contacted tree was in hand of five-year-old child.”
He said the investigation “could not find anything to disprove” that the child started the fire, but said that does not prove that claim either because “we are talking about a five-year-old child.”
Four of the alarms were found “inoperable” in drawers, one was on the ceiling with no batteries and one was on the floor with no batteries.
The seventh smoke alarm was in the shared basement but it “activated late.”
This child is one of two survivors from the incident, Thiel said.
“With near certainty,” Thiel said the ignition source for the tree was a nearby lighter. This came after investigating every other outlet sources, including fire places.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will be joined by Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, ATF Special Agent-In-Charge Mathew Varisco and Philadelphia Housing Authority President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Housing Authority Ceo, Kelvin Jeremiah stated, he spoke to surviving families of both units and will do everything to ensure they have what they need including rehousing, which PHA has identified.
“They’re babies, young children. They didn’t even get to experience life,” said Isaiah Brown, a cousin who viewed himself as a mentor to one of the boys.
Jeremiah also stated that the family had signed off on the inspection confirming the validity of the smoke detectors’ proper function.
The Housing Authority CEO said, though 18 people were inside Unit B, 14 people were authorized to be there.
However, Jeremiah also stated they are ’not going to be critical’ of the families and victims’ size in the unit who were affected by the deadly fire.
Here’s how to watch: Live News Stream: Watch FOX 29 News Philadelphia
Children First, a Philadelphia-based child advocacy nonprofit, has launched a fundraiser to assist those affected, and is “reaching out to the community to find ways” to help. Formerly known as Public Citizens for Children and Youth, the group adds that all donations will go to the family and community affected by the fire.
Before donating to a charity or fundraiser, you can also check out the group on charity rating websites such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, and Guidestar, which evaluate nonprofits and recommend credible charitable organizations.
Red Cross is now providing emergency assistance for a displaced family of five who lived on the first floor of the apartment building. Additionally, Red Cross is providing support for the family members of the fire victims.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this morning’s tragic fire in Fairmount,” the tweet reads.
“The Red Cross is on the scene providing care and comfort to this devastated neighborhood. We’ll continue to support the affected families and help with the immediate needs of those displaced.”
The Salvation Army Philadelphia is also on scene assisting impacted families.
“Please help us pray for the families affected by this horrific incident in Fairmount,” it reads on a Facebook post. “Our staff and volunteers are currently on site providing care and assistance.”
Reports indicate that officials will look at schematics to build a picture of how the fire spread so quickly.
A joint investigation is also being conducted to determine the cause of the deadly fire by Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit, the Philadelphia Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The uncontrolled flames swept through the second floor of the building before the sun rose this morning.
A child who lived at the apartment building told investigators a Christmas tree caught fire before she ran out, NBC10 Philadelphia reports.
Earlier Wednesday, fire officials said heavy fire was coming from a kitchen area on the second floor.
“It’s a whole bunch of emotions, anger, sorrow, confusion, questions,” Rabyna Turner told KYW.
“It’s just a lot. The minute you think of something another question pops up in your head, or just a visual of what was going on with the children in the house and being trapped with no way out, no help and it was just a blaze.”
Yvette Woods’ two sons, ages seven and 13, escaped the fire with minor injuries. One boy had burns on his arm and the other had burns on his head.
“I just want to know what happened,” Woods told KYW Newsradio’s John McDevitt.
Woods was out of town and called her cousin Rabyna Turner to rush to the apartment after the fire broke out.
“I’m thankful that my family was able to make it out and make it out with the minor burns that they had,” Turner said. “On the other hand it sickens me that all the other kids had to lose their lives.”
Turner added that the condition of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) building was “not what it was supposed to have been.”
According to CBS News, the deceased victims were said to still be inside of the homes.
Local residents should check their detectors and replace units or batteries if needed.
Frank Maule, a fireman in Wilmington, Delaware, said the city has a smoke alarm hotline.
If residents call, the fire department will come install a smoke detector for free.
“My heart is with the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic fire in Philadelphia,” she tweeted.
Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta also released a statement.
“I’m having a hard time finding the words to express my deep sorrow for the heartbreaking loss of 13 lives, including 7 kids, in this morning’s fire in Fairmount,” he tweeted.
‘‘This weighs heavy as we mourn those lost and keep hope for those being treated in the hospital.’’
The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) has been on scene for several hours as the investigation continues.
“An unspeakably tragic day in Fairmount despite a strong response from the PFD,” PFD tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “Please keep the community and our members in your thoughts.”
“This unimaginable loss of life has shaken all of us at the PHA,” President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah said.
The property was last inspected in May 2021 and “all the smoke detectors were operating properly at that time,” according to the PHA.
“Our primary goal right now is to support our residents in any way we can,” Jeremiah said.
“There was an inspection done by the PHA in 2019,” he said.
“When they went out in 2019, they installed four smoke detectors. There was another inspection in 2020, that time they installed 2 smoke detectors.”
At the time of Wednesday’s press conference, Murphy said there were four smoke detectors in the building and none of them were operating.
The property, built in 1920, was previously a three-story home that was converted into apartments, according to Redfin.
Newsweek reached out to the PHA for comment but has not yet heard back.
“This is without a doubt one of the most tragic days in our city’s history,” Mayor Kenney said.
“To say you have a loss of words is an understatement,” Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke Clarke said during a news conference Wednesday.
“This punches you in the gut. Children. People in the community. It’s just tragic. I don’t know what to say. It’s so sad.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Tenney echoed similar sentiments saying, “Losing so many kids is just devastating.”
He later posted an update thanking firefighters and first responders for their efforts on scene.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims. We are investigating this horrific incident, and we will continue to provide updates.”
The video shows the flames engulfing the second floor of the duplex as fire crews arrived on the scene.
The man told WTXF-TV reporter Steve Keeley he woke up to “blood curdling screams” at 6 a.m.
“I’ve been here for 24 years, and you know, it’s your worst nightmare,” the man told local CBS affiliate KYW-TV.
The man said he knew someone who lived in the building.
“I watched him grow up, he lived there for a long time,” he said. “I hope he’s not one of them [the victims].
“I’ve been around 35 years now and this is probably one of the worst fires I’ve ever been to,” Philadelphia Fire Department 1st Dep. Commissioner Craig Murphy said during Wednesday’s press conference.
Murphy said firefighters were able to respond to the scene in two minutes and begin an aggressive attack, but the loss was devastating.
Multiple agencies remain on scene conducting a thorough investigation.
The Philadelphia Fire Department says it will provide another update “soon.”
The total death toll at this time remains at 13.
The fire official said the investigation is dynamic and ongoing. All partner agencies are working on the investigation.
“I don’t have the words right now for how we are feeling…as a city and as a department,” he said.
He said eight people in the building self-evacuated and two victims, including one child, were transported to local hospitals.
They were battery-operated, Murphy said during the news conference Wednesday. The last fire inspection conducted was in 2020.
He said 18 people lived on the second and third floors, 26 lived in the building.
Murphy said there were only two exits, the front and rear, because of the “odd configuration” of the house.
Kenney indicated many of the victims are children.
“Please keep these babies in your prayers,” he said during a press briefing.
Kenney called this one of the “most tragic days in our city history.”
FOX29 Philly reports several Philadelphia city officials including Mayor Jim Kenney, Philadelphia Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials are on scene ahead of a press conference being staged now.
The conference will be livestreamed on local news channels.
According to local reports, 13 people were found dead. WTXF-TV’s Steve Keeley reported “several kids are among victims.” Two victims, one child and one adult, are in critical but stable condition at a local hospital, officials told Keeley.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney also arrived moments ago to survey the scene and get briefed from officials.
