Thanks to quick actions by a neighbor, three people were able to escape an early morning house fire. The fire broke out shortly before 1:30 a.m. in a three-story row home near 51st and Chestnut Streets, according to a 6ABC News report. West Philly Local readers reported seeing a big, “raging orange” fire in the area.

A neighbor, Jamara Lamont-Boyd, who was walking by when the fire broke out, reportedly kicked the front door in and helped the house occupants escape the flames before fire crews arrived.

“…I kicked the front door in. I pulled the second door and yanked it in and banged and got the people out. There were people on all three floors,” Lamont-Boyd told ABC.

The building sustained damage from smoke and water. Luckily, no injuries were reported.

There was another, tragic fire in Philadelphia early Saturday morning. Four children died, several homes were destroyed and about 40 residents were displaced as the result of a fire that broke out around 2:40 a.m. in Southwest Philadelphia, in the Mount Moriah section, according to various reports.

The former Transition To Independent Living Center building at the corner of S. 46th and Spruce streets. (photo West Philly Local)

Since being gutted in a fire three years ago, the former Transition to Independent Living Center at 4534-36 Spruce Street has become an eyesore for the community. Despite local street artists turning it into an open canvas, no signs of demolition or renovation have occurred at the derelict corner building—at least, not until recently.

According to neighbor reports, the owners of 4534-36 Spruce Street recently replaced the building’s windows after the city slapped them with a blight violation. One West Philly Local reader even reported that workers she spoke with at the site confirmed they were installing new windows because “the owner had been collecting fines from the city as a result of the boarded-up windows” and that they are planning to renovate the building—although no one knows why or for what.

The north facing wall of the building is covered with street art.

“The property is now a blight on the neighborhood, collecting graffiti and a truly amazing collection of discarded chewing gum,” the reader, known as Mary, wrote in a comment on our site. “It’s been years since the fire and they have had sufficient time to settle any insurance issues and make a decision about the building’s future.”

As West Philly Local reported late last year, a search of the Department of Licenses and Inspection database shows that the owners were issued with both window and license violations on October 3, 2013, and were ordered to secure windows with “windows that have frames and glazing.” (The original violation, which was sent to court, was updated on January 16, 2014 to reflect the owners compliance with property license requirements). On May 29, the owners were cited with another two blight violations, one for the vacant property and one for the windows it recently replaced—that case remains open.

West Philly Local reached out to the owners, but they did not return our request for comment. We’ll keep you updated when we receive new information.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Power was out for many near 50th and Spruce this morning after a transformer blew and caught on fire. Firefighters switched off power in the area to extinguish the fire. A reader, Marino Pagan, sent in this short video of the fire shot across Barkan Park.

Fire crews are battling a fire at 921 S. 49th St on Friday. (Photo by Jennifer Fang)

A fire destroyed the third floor of a three-story twin at 921 S. 49th Street on Friday evening. The fire began at about 7 p.m. and was under control by about 7:20. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported.

A fire that broke out in a rowhome on the 3600 block of Spring Garden Street Wednesday night displaced about 15 residents, according to reports. Smoke was reported coming from the first floor of the three-story building at 6 p.m. The fire quickly spread throughout the building, according to a report by Philly Fire News. The building was evacuated. The blaze was placed under control shortly after 7 p.m. No injuries were reported.

The American Red Cross responded to the fire to assist the displaced residents. Two people required Red Cross help. One of them spent the night at Red Cross House, according to Red Cross spokesperson Dave Schrader.

Red Paw Relief was also on the scene and helped at least two displaced pets.

On-scene of the 3600 blk of Spring Garden St w/@RedCrossPhilly & @PhillyFireDept pic.twitter.com/jCinmzmDsh

— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) April 24, 2014

We are responding 2 assist @RedCrossPhilly w/at least 2 displaced pets from the row home fire in the Mantua section of #philly. @CBSPhilly

— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) April 24, 2014

UPDATE on our Spring Garden St fire response: 2 cats missing. Fire dwelling unstable. Our vols will search again in the morning.

— Red Paw Relief Team (@RedPawRelief) April 24, 2014

Photo by West Philly Local readers Karen and Peter.

A house fire was reported in the Cedar Park neighborhood on Saturday, around 7 p.m.. A house on 48th Street between Baltimore and Cedar Avenues was engulfed in smoke. Multiple fire trucks and lots of firefighters responded to the fire that was shortly taken under control. The building was still smoking and it looked like it may have suffered serious damage, according to one West Philly Local reader.

UPDATE (3/31/2014): The fire was at a three-story twin at 615 S. 48th St. It was reported at 7 p.m. and brought under control in 27 minutes at about 7:30 p.m., according to a fire department spokesman. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.