Two other people were hospitalized following the blaze at a South Philadelphia home on Friday, June 19
Credit: 6abc Philadelphia/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- A woman died and two other people were injured after a fire broke out at a home in South Philadelphia on Friday, June 19
- Investigators believe the fire started from an e-bike charging in the living room
- “It looks like they potentially awoke to the smoke and fire,” said Philadelphia Fire Department Executive Chief Daniel McCarty
A grandmother died in a house fire just six months after her family moved into a South Philadelphia home.
At around 4:45 a.m. local time on Friday, June 19, fire crews responded to reports of a blaze at a residential block on South Mildred Street, NBC 10 Philadelphia and 6abc Philadelphia reported, citing the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD).
Three people were rescued from the property and taken to the hospital, where one of the victims, aged 49, died from her injuries, according to the outlets.
A 4-year-old girl remains in critical condition. She is believed to be the granddaughter of the woman who died and her mother is reportedly the other injured victim, CBS News reported.
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The fire was brought under control after around half an hour, according to NBC 10 Philadelphia.
Investigators have determined that the fire was sparked by an e-bike charging inside the living room of the home, per CBS News and 6abc Philadelphia.
"Looks like a heavy bulk of fire started on the first floor,” PFD Executive Chief Daniel McCarty told 6abc.
"Two were found in the first-floor kitchen area," he added of the victims. "It looks like they potentially awoke to the smoke and fire. I can't confirm that I was not there, but preliminary, where they were found by our responders, it looks like they were trying to make it out.”
The injured girl's mother is believed to have jumped from a second-floor window to safety and is in stable condition, the PFD confirmed to CBS News. The victims have not been named publicly at this time.
“I could hear somebody screaming, extremely loud. I've never heard — it was like bloody violence. It was crazy," said neighbor Chris Adams, who witnessed the incident, per 6abc.
The PFD shared their condolences on Facebook "Our hearts are with family members and neighbors in South Philly after a tragic fire yesterday morning. Please keep them, and the responding firefighters and medics, in your thoughts," the department wrote.
The family moved into the home in January, CBS News reported.
A PFD spokesperson told CBS News investigators observed melted smoke detectors in the home that had been working when the fire started. "There were working smoke alarms when the fire broke out," the spokesperson said, per the outlet.
An investigation is ongoing.
PEOPLE has reached out to the PFD for comment.
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