Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers speaking at about
7:30 p.m. as firefighters brought the blaze at 48th and Walnut Streets under control.
(Photo by West Philly Local)

8:35 p.m.: Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said 89 of the 90 apartments affected by the fire were occupied. Ayers said the fire, which appeared to have started in the northwest corner of the building, moved east toward 48th Street. “It went west to east through that building pretty fast,” Ayers said. He did not speculate on a cause.

So far about 100 residents have registered with the Red Cross at their shelter at the Locke Alaine School at 4550 Haverford Ave., according to Red Cross Philly CEO Donna Palmieri. She said the youngest person displaced by the fire is a 4-week-old baby. Palmieri suggested donating money to Red Cross Philly rather than clothing or supplies so that the Red Cross can buy exactly what the families need, everything from medication lost in the fire to offsetting costs for lost driver’s licenses. Individual case help will be available beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Locke Alaine School at 4550 Haverford Avenue.

“Most of the families right now are in pretty good shape,” said Palmieri. “They’re distressed about the loss. They’re concerned about their pets and their belongings.”

8:29 p.m.: School officials announced that West Philadelphia High School and Henry C. Lea Elementary School will be closed on Tuesday. West Philadelphia High School was used as a temporary shelter in the early hours of the fire.

7:40 p.m.: The fire has been contained. A city worker was injured and taken to the hospital, according to fire commissioner Lloyd Ayers.

6:50 p.m.: The fire has spread to three sections of the building along Walnut Street.

Firefighters battle blaze from northwest corner of the Windermere Court Apartments complex at 48th and Walnut Streets. (Photo by West Philly Local)

A five-alarm fire is blazing at the southwest corner of 48th and Walnut Streets at the Windermere Court Apartments, a multiple-section four-story brick building. The fire appears to have begun on the top floor of the far west building but has spread to an adjacent building.

UPDATE: Here is some raw video of the fire shot at about 4 p.m.

Fire officials could not confirm whether anyone was trapped in the building or how the fire began.

Several residents reported that there was no warning when the fire started at about 2:35 p.m. Many said they did not hear a fire alarm.

An evacuation center has been set up for those displaced from the building at the Locke School at 46th and Haverford Avenue.
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A quartet of amazing guitarists from all over the world are playing at the Calvary Center for Community and Culture (801 S. 48th St.) in West Philly on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.. Seriously, if you’re into guitar music (or music of any kind) these guys are going to knock your socks off. The guitarists include Clive Carroll from Great Britain, Alexandre Gismonti from Brazil, Italian Pino Forastiere and Brian Gore from the United States.

“International Guitar Night” will feature solos, duets and quartets in an intimate setting. A unique part of the tour is the workshop that the guitarists put on. On Tuesday at 7:30 they will work with workshop participants on some of the techniques they will use during the concert the following day. The fee is only $10.

Crossroads Music is hosting both the show and the workshop. Tickets for both are available here.

Below is a clip of Pino Forastiere performing “Wild Parking.” It’s absolutely amazing what this guy can do with a guitar.

The Garden Court Community Association is offering grants of up to $700 for sidewalk repairs, tree pruning and planting and a variety of other block improvements. The grants require a dollar-for-dollar matching by the block in labor, in-kind services or cash. The grants are available for blocks within the Garden Court neighborhood – 45th Street to 52nd Street and Locust Street to Cedar Avenue.

Possible improvements include:

• Professional tree pruning

• Planting new street trees

• Sidewalk repairs

• Development of lawns between the curb and sidewalk

Applications require at least two people on the same block living in different households. At least one applicant must be a member of the community association. Grant applications are due Feb. 1 and the grants will be announced March 1. Grant applications are available here.

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The Global Leadership Academy Charter School at 5151 Warren St. “cannot be salvaged” after a five-alarm fire this morning, according to the school’s website.

The fire began at about 6 a.m. in the school’s basement, according to reports, and quickly engulfed the school. A police officer passing by the school at about 6 a.m. spotted flames in the basement of the building. The school announced that it will keep students up to date with automated phone messages.

About 500 students grades K-8 attend GLA Charter School, which is scheduled to begin the 2011-2012 school year at a new building near 46th and Girard.

Firefighters are battling a five-alarm blaze this morning at the Global Leadership Academy Charter School at 5151 Warren St. The fire is under control, according to reports and no injuries have been reported. The fire appears to have started at about 6 a.m. this morning.

Police have rerouted all traffic, including buses and trolleys, off of Lancaster Avenue near the fire.

About 500 students grades K-8 attend GLA Charter School, which is scheduled to begin the 2011-2012 school year at a new building near 46th and Girard.

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There are still a couple of hours left to catch today’s winter edition of the Clark Park Farmer’s Market. Several hearty vendors have braved the snow to offer some fresh vegetables, bread, eggs and the like. The market runs until 2 p.m. today.