New York: A big fire in Philadelphia early Wednesday killed 13 people, including seven children, and sent two people to the hospital, said fire.
Officials said at a press conference later in the morning that there were four smoke detectors in the building but no one operated.
Firefighters and police responded to a fire in a three-storey rowhouse in the Fairmount City neighborhood at around 6:40 a.m.
and found a fire that came from the second floor window, said fire.
The house has been converted into two apartments, police said.
The fire is controlled after less than an hour.
WPVI-TV reports that at least one child looks taken on a stretcher.
Television news recording shows the stairs against in front of the house that blackened smoke, with all the windows disappeared.
The hole remained on the roof where firefighters had penetrated.
“I know some of the children – I used to see them playing in the corner,” said Dannie McGuire, 34, against tears when he and Martin Burgert, 35, stood at the door of the house on the corner.
They have stayed there for a decade, he said, “And some of the children stayed here for us.” “I can’t imagine how more people can’t get out – jump out the window,” he said.
“Losing so many children is just destroying,” said Mayor Jim Kenney.
“Save these babies in your prayer.”