WEST PHILADELPHIA – Dark, sooty smoke visible from all corners of the city rose above a burning four-story apartment building that stretches half a block at 48th and Walnut streets. The fire lasted late into the evening.
Fire officials said early yesterday evening that no deaths were yet reported, but initial reports had indicated that one resident may have run back into the Windmere Court Apartments. All 90 units of the four-section, garden court-style building were evacuated by 3:30 p.m.
The blaze eventually reached five-plus alarms by nightfall and flames ripped through the roof after spreading across the older building’s cockloft.
