Fire in South Philadelphia Rowhome Kills Two, Critically Injures One

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA – A fire in a South Philadelphia rowhome early Friday morning led to the deaths of two men and critically injured a third. The incident took place around 2:30 a.m. at a three-story brick building on the corner of South 8th and Salter Streets, a property neighbors described as having ongoing issues.

When fire crews arrived, they found flames engulfing all three floors of the building. Will Jenkins, who lives nearby, said, “It was pretty bad. The top floor looked like most of it was on fire. They were pulling the guys out. They tried resuscitating two of them.” Firefighters quickly worked to extinguish the blaze, which posed a risk to surrounding homes and businesses.

Two male victims, aged 25 and 30, were pronounced dead at Jefferson Hospital, while a 40-year-old man was taken in critical condition. Officials believe the men were squatters in the building. Jenkins described ongoing issues at the property, including noise disturbances and fights.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson confirmed that while multiple rescues were made, the loss of life was tragic. He stated, “During the firefight, we were able to rescue several people from that dwelling but, unfortunately, there were two people that perished as a result of the fire.”

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and there were no smoke detectors found in the building. Deputy Fire Commissioner Gustav Baumann indicated that an investigation by the Philadelphia Fire Marshal is underway, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Local residents expressed their shock and sadness over the incident. “It’s very unfortunate. It’s sad,” said neighbor Larry Herring, relieved that firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to his home. Cleanup crews were seen boarding up the structure later in the day.