A man died on the second floor of the rowhome at 1257 S. 46th St. overnight.

A neighbor was killed and two others were injured in a house fire overnight on the 1200 block of S. 46th Street. The fire broke out around midnight and was put out about 20 minutes later. The victim, a man in his 30s, was found on the second floor and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men who were at the house when the fire started were able to escape.

We spoke to a next-door neighbor this morning who said that the attached row home at 1257 S. 46th is a boarding house that includes five units. The woman said she had some damage in her ceiling where firemen broke through to ensure the fire didn’t spread to adjacent buildings.

Apparently, the house was in pretty bad condition, with portable oil and electric heaters in use and no working smoke alarms, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers told NBC10.

Miki, the woman who sustained serious burns and injuries after she jumped out of the 2nd floor window during Wednesday morning house fire on the 4600 block of Larchwood Avenue, is in stable condition, according to her friends. Miki sustained burns on 20-25 percent of her body. She is currently on a breathing machine, but she is “moving in the right direction,” a friend said.

“Miki will make it. She will pull through,” said Dina, a close friend of Miki. Many thanks to neighbor Lynn Major for keeping us updated on Miki’s condition.

The cause of the fire that broke out in the wee hours on Wednesday is still under investigation, according to the Fire Marshal’s office.

The row home at 4616 Larchwood Avenue this morning, after the fire was put out.

A woman was injured after jumping out of the 2nd floor window trying to escape a row home fire early this morning at 4616 Larchwood Avenue. The fire broke out shortly before 4:30 a.m. and was put out just before 5:30 a.m., NBC10 reports. The woman also sustained some burns and was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her condition is unknown at this time.

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Algernong Allen standing in the remains of the Elena’s Soul building. Photo by Danophonic Dan.

Editor’s note: Algernong sent us this letter in response to our request for comments on the future of Elena’s Soul. We’ve edited it to fit our format, but the words were not changed.

My thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with the employees, residents and owners, of business and property in the Cedar Park community detrimentally impacted by the fire at Elena’s Soul on Monday December 24^th at about 1 p.m. My greatest consolation is that there was no loss of life, or injury.

The initial determination of the City’s Fire Marshal and my independent fire inspector indicates the fire originated in the kitchen somewhere above the refrigerators, most likely in the ceiling. Due to the temperature of the blaze, hot enough to melt metal, and the total decimation, the exact cause is not determinable. There were no fire violations at Elena’s Soul, and all City required inspections and maintenance of cooking equipment, fire alarm system,  fire suppression, hood cleaning and fire extinguishers were current.  Foul play is not suspected or indicated by any reports at this time.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections declared Elena’s 3-story brick structure unsafe and scheduled demolition. The neighboring businesses, Gary’s Nails and the Cedar Park Café, had suffered limited physical and structural damages as a result of the conflagration. However, during demolition, the towering brick walls were felled into the neighboring businesses, causing severe and extensive damages. Gary’s Nails may have been structurally compromised and may face condemnation.

I am more sorry for the misfortune caused to the wonderful women, who operate Gary’s Nails and their employees, than words can express.

For our customers, our friends, who have become our ever growing and changing family … Thank you! I know many felt Elena’s Soul (and LeRoy’s) was as much their place as it was mine. Community was built there. No matter the difference of culture, hue, orientation or outlook, our common desire to share fellowship though food, music and drink contributed to understanding and acceptance of our differences.

I have great sadness that your special place is gone, and our special place is lost.

“I have great sadness that your special place is gone, and our special place is lost.” (Photo from Elena’s Soul Facebook page)

For this, not only do I feel your pain, but I share it, and understand it.

It is too early to say what the next step is from here. The process of recovery is extremely complex. The realities of liability, insurance, litigation and debt make simple answers to simple questions difficult.

In terms of fundraising, I understand that many wish to find ways to help.  I would respectfully ask those who wish to help, not to press the issue.  I appreciate the sentiment, but do not wish to be the object of charity.

I am thankful to be a part of your community. I am thankful for the outpouring of support and sympathy. We have all lost a special place. May we all hold on to our good memories.

Best Regards,

Algernong Allen III

UPDATE (Dec. 30): The Wine and Spirits store on the 4900 block of Baltimore Avenue has reopened.

Crews have demolished the building that housed the popular bar and restaurant Elena’s Soul, which was destroyed by fire Monday. The demolition caused severe damage to adjacent buildings, prompting the city to order that those buildings either be repaired or demolished themselves.

The City placed an “imminently dangerous” notice on Gary’s Nails today after the walls of the three-story building that housed Elena’s collapsed through the nail salon’s roof. A wall in Gary’s was also severely damaged during the demolition. The notice requires the building’s owner to repair or demolish the building in a timely manner.

A wall from the Elena’s building also crashed through the roof of the adjacent Cedar Park Cafe, prompting the City to also serve notice to the building’s owner that it needs to be repaired or demolished.

The fire and demolition has also impacted the Wine and Spirit Store next door to Gary’s. The store has been closed since demolition began and a sign posted in the window says that it will be “closed until further notice.” It remained closed Friday afternoon.

So far there has been no indication of where or whether Elena’s will rebuild. Elena’s Soul carried on a long tradition of bars in the building, which was reportedly built in 1908. Before Elena’s, the building was the home of Leroy’s Showcase Lounge. Elena’s catered to a relatively young, multiracial crowd.

“That place brought a lot of different kinds of people together,” said one man as he watched the demolition today. “Gonna be tough to replace that.”

A cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The liquor store adjacent to Gary’s Nails will be closed until further notice.

As words of sympathy and support continue to pour in for Elena’s Soul Lounge, which was seriously damaged by fire on Monday, we are passing along information on the first fundraiser for this popular Baltimore Avenue spot. The fundraiser Jam Session/Concert to raise money for Elena’s Soul Lounge will be held this Friday, Dec. 28 at Major Events Banquet Hall, 5075 Lancaster Ave, 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. The fundraiser is hosted by IM3Media that helped organize Hidden Soul Wednesdays at Elena’s. More information is available here (Facebook page).