A suspected arson fire ripped through multiple homes in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, leaving an elderly woman dead, two people wounded and nearly two dozen displaced.
The fire was sparked at a residence along the 1800 block of East Russell Street on Friday around 4 a.m. and quickly spread to the four row homes on either side, NBC Philadelphia reported.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, several people were on the roofs of their homes and needed to be rescued. First responders — including about 80 firefighters, medics and other support staff — saved the residents while working to battle back the flames, investigators said.
Once the blaze was under control, firefighters discovered the body of an elderly woman in a second-floor bedroom, according to Philadelphia Assistant Fire Chief Charles Walker. She was identified Friday night as 66-year-old Evelyn Payne.
Another two people people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while 23 others were displaced by the fire, Walker said.
“The American Red Cross is helping 6 families — 23 people total — who are displaced by the fire,” said Alana Mauger, Regional Communications Manager for American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania. “We will continue to offer support in the coming days and weeks.”
Shadeek McDowell, 38, was arrested in connection to the fire and has since been charged with murder, arson, assault and other related charges, police said. They did not provide further details and it’s unclear if McDowell had any relation to the victim.
What actually started the fire is still under investigation.
Walker noted there were no functioning smoke alarms inside the home where the fire began, adding that Philadelphia residents without one can call 311 and request one be installed for them.
“It’s very important to have a smoke alarm,” Walker said. “Especially in this hour in the morning, [it] becomes your first alert mechanism. … Make sure your batteries are working.”