Firefighters battle 3-alarm blaze in homes near site of Pottstown explosion: authorities
Firefighters battle 3-alarm blaze in homes near site of Pottstown explosion: authorities
Authorities say the three-alarm fire began in a home under construction before spreading to another house that was being rebuilt across the street from the site of a deadly explosion that rocked the community nearly one year ago.
Firefighters worked to extinguish flames that erupted in two homes being repaired after they were damaged in an explosion nearly one year ago.
Officials say the fire broke out on homes in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Hale Street in Pottstown around 4:20 p.m.
Pottstown house explosion leaves 5 dead, four victims between 8-13 years old
Authorities in Pennsylvania are investigating the cause of a house explosion that killed five people and injured two others on Thursday night.
According to authorities, the three-alarm fire began in a home under construction before spreading to another home that was also being rebuilt.
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The homes were originally damaged in May 2022 when a home across the street exploded in the area of Hale Street and Butler Avenue, leaving five people, including four children, dead.
The victims were later identified as Francine White, 67, Alana Wood, 13, Jeremiah White, 12, Nehemiah White, 10, and 8-year-old Tristan White.
Jeremiah White, 12, Nehemiah White, 10, were both killed in the explosion along with three others. Credit: Cathy McKee
Jordan Strokovsky represents 25 people impacted by the explosion, including one of the owners that just lost their home in the fire. Strokovsky says about half of his clients have been able to return home, but they still do not know what caused the explosion.
The Philadelphia Office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives previously deferred FOX 29 to local authorities. PECO said the explosion property was not one of its natural gas customers, but neighbors told FOX 29 they reported a gas smell in recent years.
A total of 11 families were displaced as a result of the explosion. Investigators are still working to discover what caused the explosion nearly a year ago and the cause of the early-morning fire on Hale Street.