UPDATE 3 (8/15/13): NBC10 reports that the cause of the fire at the New Horizons building at 48th and Trinity was arson. Fire brigades previously responded to the building for other suspicious fires, about five in the past year and two in the past month, according to neighbors.
UPDATE 2 (11:00 p.m.) We have received the following update from the Red Cross:
“Residents living on the affected 2nd floor will be provided lodging by the management company. Residents on other floors are allowed back into their homes, but anyone who decides not to stay, because of the lack of doors, will be assisted by the Red Cross with a place to stay. Responders on the scene are now determining how many people are choosing not to stay in their units.”
The Red Cross was assisting 28 people displaced by tonight’s fire with snacks, water, and blankets. The primary issue is that many apartments don’t have doors on them. Red Paw Relief members assisted with 11 cats and one rat.
UPDATE (9:30 p.m.): Red Paw Relief was on the scene to assist residents with their pets. Residents are waiting outside to learn whether they will be allowed back in the building tonight or put in a hotel by the building management.
A fire that broke out this evening at the New Horizons apartment building located on the 1000 block of 48th Street forced residents to jump out windows in an effort to escape the blaze. The fire reportedly started on the second floor of the building around 6:15 p.m. and some apartments sustained smoke damage.
Witnesses saw some residents jumping out windows in the back of the building. One of the people who jumped, a woman, was taken to the hospital with back pain, according to CBS Philly. Another person was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation. The fire is currently under investigation.
On-scene at the 1000 blk S.48th St apt fire assisting a resident w/her cat. pic.twitter.com/86I6o4hFG7
— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) August 14, 2013
1 cat pulled from bldg on its way to @pennvet w/possible smoke inhalation. Thanks for the blanket @RedCrossPhilly pic.twitter.com/FuJdaBGB64
— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) August 14, 2013
On-scene w/ @RedCrossPhilly pic.twitter.com/aP6bhCNfoZ
— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) August 15, 2013
Breakdown of cats at @pennvet 1 w/smoke inhalation, 1 w/burns, 1 jumped from 2nd floor.
— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) August 15, 2013
August 15th, 2013 at 10:53 am
Prayers of comfort and healing to all. Perhaps the Friends of Clark Park and other neighborhood groups could unite to help those who lost their homes and belongings?