PHOTOS: Fire rips through Elena’s Soul Lounge in West Philadelphia

Firefighters are battling a blaze at Elena’s Soul Lounge on the 4900 block of Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia.

A reader sent in photos of the fire. They said neighbors first saw smoke coming from the nightclub shortly after 1 p.m.

The fire engulfed apartments on the building’s second and third stories and apparently spread to the neighboring Cedar Park Cafe.

One eyewitness said that responders had difficulty finding a working hydrant, enlisting nearby residents to help seek out working water service.

Firefighters reportedly had the inferno wrestled nearly under control by about 2:15 p.m.