FEBRUARY 16, 2015
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA:
Firefighters battled flames and ice in a two alarm building
blaze in West Philadelphia early Monday morning.
The fire was reported around 4:45 a.m. at the Locust Medical
Center on the 200 block of South 52nd Street.
The upper floors were reportedly empty and slated for
renovation, but neighbors had to be evacuated.
"It looked like a whole block on fire," said Aaron
Ruffin.
A fire in West Philadelphia on Monday left buildings covered
in ice as the water used by firefighters froze on contact.
Water from the fire hoses combined with cold temperatures
caused some major ice problems for crews.
Video from Chopper 6 HD and the Action Cam showed ice
covering not only the site of the fire, but also power lines, utility poles and
neighboring buildings.
The weight of all that ice added another factor that
firefighters had to account for.
"So we have to be careful about the collapse of the
building," said Chief Kamau Bright.
So far, there is no word on what sparked the blaze.