Four Story Apartment Building, Five Alarm Fire Philadelphia

A fire at a four-story apartment complex in Philadelphia (PA) on Monday January 10th, 2010 spewed thick black smoke that could be seen for miles and sent flames shooting from the rooftop, endangering other buildings and forcing at least one nearby school to send children home early.

The 90-unit apartment complex was evacuated safely, and there were no reports of serious injuries, firefighters said. One passer-by was taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, dispatchers said.

Fire crews were called to the Windermere Court complex in West Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, and the fire quickly worsened, Deputy Chief Willy Williams said. About 160 firefighters aided by 50 pieces of equipment battled the blaze, Williams said. The fire was reported under control Monday night after crews worked for almost five hours to put it out.

Hoses poured water on the fire from several sides of the apartment complex, which has three large residential sections that are connected, as crews tried to keep the flames from spreading to nearby buildings, Williams said.

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The fire commissioner told reporters that the fire was declared under control at 7:30 pm, but at the time of this posting, 10 pm, all units were still working and fires were still burning in the W-shape building.

This raw video taken by NBC News after nightfall shows how much fire was left after four hours:

There is no indication yet on how or where the fire started.  All of the displaced tenants are gathered in a high school in the next block down while Red Cross and Salvation Army teams make arrangements for their immediate needs.

A LARGE FIRE RAN THROUGH AN ENTIRE 90-unit condominium apartment building in West Philadelphia on Monday evening. The fire started shortly after 2:30 pm in the older converted building and went to 5 alarms.

The fire commissioner told reporters that the fire was declared under control at 7:30 pm, but at the time of this posting, 10 pm, all units were still working and fires were still burning in the W-shape building.

There is no indication yet on how or where the fire started. All of the displaced tenants are gathered in a high school in the next block down while Red Cross and Salvation Army teams make arrangements for their immediate needs.