Man charged with arson, murder in Philadelphia rowhome fire that left woman dead

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Arson investigation underway, arrest made after Philadelphia fire that left woman dead

A fire that left a woman dead in Philadelphia's Harrowgate neighborhood is being investigated as a possible arson. A male suspect was taken into custody following the fire.

A woman is dead and nearly two dozen people are displaced following a fire that tore through a Philadelphia home early Friday morning. 

Firefighters were called to a rowhome on the 800 block of East Russell Street around 4:30 a.m. and encountered a home engulfed in flames.

Authorities say a family was safely rescued from the roof of the home. They told firefighters that their mother was still inside the burning home.

Evelyn Payne, 66, was found unresponsive on the second floor of the home and pronounced dead at the scene of the fire, authorities said.

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Two other people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Hours after the deadly blaze, authorities reported that 38-year-old Shadeek McDowell was charged with murder and arson, among other crimes.

The Red Cross said it's helping more than 20 people from six different families who were displaced by the fire.