Huge fire 53rd and Pentridge

[seand]

It appears to be directly across the R3 tracks from the Apple Lofts building. Huge blaze. probably 4 alarm. When I walked up 52nd it looks like they were getting ready to shoot water across the tracks from the Apple Lofts parking lot, assuming because the fire is so out of controll they are not putting it out from the 5200 block of Pentridge side. Appears to be about 5 row houses on the 5200 block of Pentridge on fire, possibly some of the industrial lot with the cars off of 53rd where it gets all turny. i talked to somebody who specualted it was kids playing with fireworks that set off the blaze.

Here's Google maps view of the center of the fire.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=53rd+...19143&t=h&z=20

I feared it was the Apple Lofts building, but all the better argument why modernizing, getting buildings like this up to fire code. Huge fire. I wold not be surprised if 5 or 6 families along the 5200 block of Pentridge are homeless as a result of this fire.

[Jayfar]

Fire raging in Kingsessing

Evacuations ordered in SW Phila. 3-alarm garage fire | 6abc.com

Massive Fire Spreads to Row Homes | NBC 10 Philadelphia

Crews Battle Fire In Kingsessing Neighborhood « Photo Galleries « CBS Philly

[OffenseTaken]

Why the f*ck are you posting this here? That's Southwest Philly, not West Philly. Take it from me, kid: I grew up in Pennsylvania. I've seen things you haven't.

Also, there's some Red Cross info here, which I thought I'd post ASAP: Fire raging in Kingsessing

[annie]

Glad it seems no one was hurt and the immediate suspicion is the obvious fireworks and not "Apple Lofts wants our homes!" Though maybe that comes later.

[seand]

Why the f*ck are you posting this here? That's Southwest Philly, not West Philly. Take it from me, kid: I grew up in Pennsylvania. I've seen things you haven't.

Ha, ha. Maybe because of the smoke that was blowing across Baltimore Ave. into West Philly. The flames were high enough that at one point the glow of the fire seemed to be coming from the Apple storage building rather than behind it and across the railroad tracks. Its a stroke of luck that a number of people were out of their homes at the time the fire broke out.

[thoth]

Was around that block shortly beforehand and there were kids setting off illegal fireworks in the vicinity, hope it's not related to that.

[billy ross]

Was around that block shortly beforehand and there were kids setting off illegal fireworks in the vicinity, hope it's not related to that.

"illegal fireworks"? Now you're a stickler for the law?

[thoth]

I'm differentiating them from boring, legal fireworks.

[seand]

I'm differentiating them from boring, legal fireworks.

I like those kind better anyway. Lots of sparks and colors where I plan them to be, not a noisy overgrown bottle rocket that blasts off in unpredictable directions before blowing up.

[MariusPontmercy]

I like those kind better anyway. Lots of sparks and colors where I plan them to be, not a noisy overgrown bottle rocket that blasts off in unpredictable directions before blowing up.

We used to take packing tubes and shoot them at each other, bazooka style, back when I was younger.

[seand]

We used to take packing tubes and shoot them at each other, bazooka style, back when I was younger.

And I bet you never burned down you and your 4 neighbors out of their houses.

[MariusPontmercy]

And I bet you never burned down you and your 4 neighbors out of their houses.

We didn't really have neighbors in Berks County.