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The residents of the 2000 block of South Fourth Street in Pennsport are knocking on Mayor Michael Nutter’s door, wondering about the ongoing city-wide brown-outs of fire companies after a two-alarm blaze the early hours of Thursday hospitalized one and destroyed condos.
Although the fire that spread over two floors did minimal structural damage, it filled the community with fear and outrage about what could have been if Engine 53, 414-16 Snyder Ave., had been browned out, which was scheduled to be the following night.
“This could have been an inferno. If this Engine had been closed, we would have been mourning people here today,” Pennsport resident and labor leader John Dougherty said at a press conference called by neighbors and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22 last Thursday afternoon.
The Philadelphia Fire Department had not determined the cause of the fire at press time, but tenants have speculated the possibility of a meth lab on the premises sparked the flames. Fire department officials were unavailable for comment.
Frustrated residents like Nichole Kalbach, whose second-floor apartment was torched by the two-alarm blaze that began at about 5:30 a.m. Oct. 7 with a second alarm sounding about 45 minutes later, according to Fire Chief William Daniels, made a plea to Nutter, saying public safety should be last thing cut as the City faces its budget woes.
“I have no where to go with my children now. Everything I own is gone now,” a tearful Kalbach said.
The blaze at 2001 S. Fourth St. was declared under control at 7:17 a.m., according to published reports. A woman was rescued from the first floor and taken to Methodist Hospital for minor smoke inhalation. Later that morning, firefighters returned to put out a secondary blaze that was declared under control about four minutes later, at 9:04 a.m.
The “rolling brown-outs” kicked off Aug. 2 with three engines or ladders closed during the 10-hour day shift and three more shuttered for the 14-hour night shift. The move, which Nutter said will save nearly $3.8 million.
Union Chairman of Trustees Michael Kane said it is unacceptable to close Engines, which puts residents in danger, just to save money.
“Its like playing Russian roulette. Sooner or later a round is going to be chambered and someone is going to die,” he said. SPR
To see more photos, visit the Pennsport blaze.
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