Witness recalls moment Philadelphia rowhome began to crumble: 'It was crazy'
Philly warned owners of unsafe building last year before rowhome collapse
A rowhome on the 1800 block of Brunner Street partially collapsed around 4:36 a.m. Thursday, according to witnesses and city officials. The family inside escaped without injuries, but the property has a history of safety violations and is now set for demolition.
PHILADELPHIA - Police say no one was injured when the side wall of a Philadelphia rowhome crumbled early Thursday morning.
What we know:
The partial rowhome collapse happened on the 1800 block of Brunner Street sometime early Thursday morning.
A mound of brick and debris was piled in the side lot of the three-story unit, spilling onto the front sidewalk.
Police say no injuries were reported in the partial collapse.
The family who was inside the rowhome at the time of the collapse escaped safely, but one of their pet cats is missing.
Dig deeper:
City records show the row home was declared unsafe last year, specifically for a structural issue with the side wall. Documents obtained by FOX 29 show the homeowners were warned it could lead to a partial or complete collapse.
The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections denied the homeowners’ request to re-enter the building to collect belongings for safety reasons.
The collapse has raised concerns among neighbors about housing safety and the need for repairs in older buildings.
"Wanna make sure that this is a safe environment we have people here who are retired, which I have my mom. She’s a senior and we need to live in good housing, affordable housing and we need a little help around here to just make sure that it’s structurally safe," said Yolanda McFadden, Neighborhood Block Captain.
Demolition crews, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and PECO spent the day at the scene assessing the damage and preparing for the home’s demolition.
"I’ve been on this block for 20 years now I’ve never seen anything like this," said a neighbor.
The homeowners were not allowed to re-enter the property due to the risk of further collapse, and the area remains an active work zone as crews continue their efforts.
What they're saying:
A man who witnessed the collapse told FOX 29 News that he was sitting in his truck when the first bricks began to fall.
"I was sitting in my truck eating, listening to some music, when I heard something hit my truck," the witness said. "I get out and I'm looking, then I noticed a couple more bricks fall from the house."
Witness recalls moment Philadelphia rowhome began to crumble: 'It was crazy'
A man said he was sitting in his truck when the first bricks from the side of a Philadelphia rowhome began to fall, leading to a partial collapse.
The man said his "Spidey-Senses" told him to get away from the house seconds before it began to crumble.
"There was this big cloud of dust and smoke, it was crazy," he said. "I've been on this block for about 20 years and I've never seen anything like this."
What we don't know:
It is not clear when the demolition will be completed or what support will be offered to the displaced family. The long-term plans for the property and potential repairs to neighboring homes have not been announced.