Massive 4-alarm fire engulfs Frankford warehouse, displacing at least 40 neighbors

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Firefighters spent hours battling a massive four-alarm fire in a four-story industrial building in Frankford early Friday morning.

It broke out around 5:30 a.m. on Adams Avenue, near Wingohocking Street.

The roof of the warehouse building quickly collapsed. Flames shot out to the building next door and spread to a number of cars parked at a nearby auto body shop.

Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Derek Bowmer said the two commercial buildings were unoccupied. Officials did not specify what businesses were housed in those buildings.

Approximately 150 firefighters responded to the scene and spent hours blasting water on the warehouse from multiple angles.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. At least 40 people were displaced. Other neighbors in the area were advised to stay indoors due to the large volume of smoke.

Valerie Madden has lived across the street from that building for 30 years. Her family was evacuated after a rude awakening Friday morning.

“Just a noise of the booms — a lot of booms,” she said. “I looked out my window and I saw it on fire.” Those bangs were cars exploding on the adjacent auto body lot.

The fire was placed under control about four hours later. Firefighters did not report any injuries.

The American Red Cross and Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management set up a place to receive displaced neighbors at Samuel Fels High School. The reception center will transition to a shelter Friday evening for those in need of a place to stay overnight.

Residents will be given a place to sleep, meals, snacks, drinks and other comfort items, American Red Cross said.

Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF are looking into the cause of the fire.