Legal news for Pennsylvania Work-related Firefighter Deaths attorneys—Two brave firefighters were injured in a Philadelphia, PA fiery inferno that put three civilians in critical condition.
Philadelphia, PA (NewYorkInjuryNews.com) – An apartment complex in Lawndale turned fiery inferno, which sent residents jumping out their windows, and injuring two firefighters. Local neighbors were seeing running from their houses to help, on Sunday morning, November 22, 2009, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
The five–alarm blaze began at 4:30 a.m., which injured 21 people including the two brave firefighters, who were combating the out of control flames. In addition, a lieutenant firefighter was struck by a civilian vehicle near the blaze, while he was directing traffic.
The first firefighter was treated at Temple Hospital for burns that he received while manning a hose for search and rescue inside the burning building. The fire commissioner said that the firefighter was stable.
The blaze spread quickly throughout the entire building. It was reported that mothers, children, and the elderly residents were jumping out their windows to escape the fire. Residents watched as the apartment was continued to be engulfed in flames.
Other nearby residents attempted to help their panicked neighbors get to safety. One resident was assisted by a “Good Samaritan” who caught a parent’s child so that they themselves could jump out the window with a 6-foot drop. The resident was identified as 24-year-old John Barnes, his girlfriend, and their 2-year-old daughter. Barnes was treated by doctors and nurses at Jeanes Hospital for a laceration he received when he jumped out the window.
Officials reported that three civilians also sustained injuries and were reportedly in critical condition under the supervision of doctors and nurses at Albert Einstein Medical Center. There were 37 houses nearby that were affected by the fire. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Bridget Hom
www.NewYorkInjuryNews.com