Fire chief Adam Thiel has just announced more about the fatal incident during a press conference. The fire started with “99 to 100 percent certainty” at the Christmas tree, which caught fire from a lighter.
It was previously known that the apartment building where the fire took place has been split into two apartments spread over three floors. 18 people stayed in the upstairs apartment, and 8. According to the fire brigade, the fire broke out on the middle floor around 06.30 in the morning. That is the floor where the mentioned Christmas tree was. The lighter was found near that spot.
Two people, including a 5-year-old child, were hospitalized with serious injuries. The child was the only person on the middle floor when the fire started. “We are dependent on the words of that five-year-old, traumatized child.” American media previously wrote that thirteen people were killed, including seven children. That turned out to be incorrect. Eight people managed to flee the property.
fire alarms
The Philadelphia fire is one of the deadliest residential fires ever in the American city. The youngest victim was only one year old, one of the relatives previously told the French news agency AFP. This person lost three sisters and seven nieces and nephews to the fire.
The fire service also reports today that seven fire alarms have been found in the building. One of them did, but the alarm didn’t go off until late. The property was rented out as social housing.
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