Northeast Philadelphia fire: Dozens displaced after fire at four-story apartment complex

Devastating fire in NE Philly displaces dozens as 200 apartments were evacuated

The only good news after a massive fire destroyed a four-story apartment building is everyone has been accounted for, but the damage is extensive. Many were not allowed back into the building as officials say it is too dangerous.

PHILADELPHIA - A large, fast-moving fire at a Northeast Philadelphia apartment complex Thursday night left three people with minor injuries and nearly 50 residents displaced.

The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.

SKYFOX was over the scene where flames could be seen coming from the roof of the four-story apartment building and pieces of the façade fell to the ground.

The fire quickly grew to four-alarms, as officials with the Philadelphia Fire Department say about 140 firefighters were on scene with at least 55 vehicles at their disposal.

Dozens displaced after fire at four-story apartment building in Northeast Philadelphia

Officials say three people suffered minor injuries in the massive fire and around 50 people were displaced.

Fire officials later confirmed that two people were treated for minor injuries and a third person had refused medical treatment. No firefighters were injured during the fight.

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"We left my country. I am from Afghanistan. We left like this," resident Hasiba Farahmand described her plight.

Massive fire erupts in NE Philly apartment complex

Firefighters work to control massive 4-alarm apartment fire in Northeast Philadelphia.

She came to Philly three years ago with just the clothes on her back. After a four-alarm fire Thursday night devastated her apartment, she is now back to square one. "I just have the clothes. That’s it. We have nothing. I don’t know what happened. My building. I don’t know. Big fire."

Fire investigators, with the help of ATF agents, were focusing their efforts on the roof of the four-story 7400 Roosevelt Apartments Friday. Pieces of the façade were still falling and tow trucks pulled burnt vehicles away.

Resident Gabe Mendoza stated, "I just snuck back in. They were not trying to let me in, so I snuck back in to try to get some things."

Residents believe the fire started in an air condition unit.

Joel Hernandez and his girlfriend moved in less than a week ago. Their work uniforms and a Red Cross blanket is all they have left.

"We’ve just been here for five days, so it’s sad we don’t have a lot of things, but the things we got is gone now," Hernandez said.

The Williams sisters came back to get medications for their parents who recently moved into a lower-level apartment. They are still missing their cat. Daughter Shaleah said, "That could have easily been them in the building and we might have been having a different conversation because my father is wheelchair bound and my mom also uses assisted devices to walk."

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at Samuel Fels High School, at 5500 Langdon Street. Thursday night, about 50 residents needed shelter.

The City of Philadelphia also alerted people, on the city's website:
Individuals affected by the fire can text RECOVERPHL to 888777 to receive updates throughout the recovery process.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.