The fire-damaged building near 46th and Baltimore on Tuesday morning (Photo by Hanbit Kwon).
A Monday night fire damaged a two-story building near 46th and Baltimore that houses two businesses – Ren’s Auto Repair and 8 Limbs Academy. The fire broke out at the autobody shop at 4542 Baltimore Ave. at around 10:30 p.m. and was put out by 11:45 p.m.
It took nearly 90 minutes to control this garage fire last night near 46th and Baltimore. #24x7x365 pic.twitter.com/yuqi4wbbh3
— Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) September 24, 2019
The fire crews had some trouble gaining entry to the building and had to call in a specialized unit to buzz saw cut through the shuttered entrance of the auto shop, according to reports. The auto shop and the 8 Limbs Academy on the second floor of the building are damaged extensively with smoke. Structurally the building appears stable.
Here’s a message posted this morning on 8 Limbs Academy’s Facebook page:
“NO CLASSES tomorrow [Tuesday, Sept. 24] due to a car fire at the auto body shop underneath us. We do not know the extent of the damage at the moment. Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers. Please check back here, IG & your email for any updates.”
No injuries have been reported. There is no word yet on what caused the fire.
September 24th, 2019 at 4:50 pm
What can we do to make sure this hellhole is never rebuilt? Restraining orders? Legislation? L&I closure?
Neighbors were cowering with their pets inside surrounding buildings for hours as the toxic fumes crept in, the only option being to try evacuating by wading through the white chemical smoke pervading the entire area.
Even in “normal” times this place is responsible for toxic fumes from spray paint and god-knows-what wafting down the street and through our properties. I’m told there was a similar fire there only 20 or so years ago.
This place needs to be shut down PERMANENTLY. Anyone have any ideas?
September 24th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
That’s really hyperbolic. Yeah, the smoke was nasty but there was at least a hundred people standing across the street watching the fire, and they aren’t dead yet.
Any building fire is going to give off toxic smoke because of all the plastics we use.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:56 pm
I moved across the street from a garage and the garage smells were terrible! It’s just as bad as my last place. I rented an apartment next to a church and bells woke me up early every Sunday!
September 24th, 2019 at 7:24 pm
Hyperbolic, right. Not where I am a block away. Maybe those fools were sitting upwind or have a death wish. (They were noticed, believe me.)
“All the plastics WE use?” Who ia “we”?
September 25th, 2019 at 11:00 am
George – it’s an auto mechanic, get over yourself. ren’s is a valuable service for the neighborhood and i hope they re-open as quickly as possible (with all the appropriate cleanup/L&I steps)
September 26th, 2019 at 3:47 pm
The building might not fall down this second but it appears to be a goner:
https://li.phila.gov/#details?entity=violationdetails&eid=708232&key=27812&address=4542-46%20BALTIMORE%20AVE
September 27th, 2019 at 8:59 am
But what started the fire?
For years I faithfully took my car to Ren’s, but the last 2 visits I felt they were overcharging for labor & parts, and stopped going.That being said, I’m sorry these businesses have suffered this terrible loss.