Flames in Philadelphia: The Kensignton fire aftermath
I received a request from Robyn to talk about the fire that happened around a month ago in West Kensington. so here we go…Robyn, I hope I’ve done you proud!
On June 20th 2007, Kensington witnessed its worst fire in history. The fire, ruled arson, started in an abandoned warehouse, near Potter and H street, at about 4 am, before arching across the street and destroying seven homes. The inferno drew 175 firefighters and 50 pieces of fire equipment, caused power and gas outages, and forced scores of people in the area to temporarily evacuate. Residents, Nancy Malave and daughter Kimberly, had only enough time to escape with their lives. The fire left their home of seven years a charred, empty void. Windows were shattered and plastic siding of nearby homes were melted from the seven-alarm blaze. Amazingly, no one was killed or hurt severely; only a few people sustained minor injuries.
Survival is paramount, of course, but starting over after a total loss involves endless small details. The Malaves had to wait in line at a motor vehicle office yesterday to replace their driver’s licenses. Kimberly, a rising Edison High School senior, with a job at a Dunkin’ Donuts near Broad Street and Allegheny Avenue, still has to buy a new uniform, as well as closed-toe shoes to supplement her flip-flops, before returning to work Monday. Her mother used to pick Kimberly up at the end of her shift. Now she will have to depend on public transportation. Michael Matza, Philadelphia Inquirer June 23
Neighbors have donated clothes, along with the Red Cross and Salvation Army. The Simple Way, a Christian-affiliated community-services group, has set up a fund to raise money for the families affected by the fire. You can mail in donations or donate online through their site.
While researching information for this post, I came across articles for several other fires in Philadelphia row homes in only the last few months. The Residents in many of these other fires were not as lucky as there were numerous deaths. It deeply saddens me that so many people, including children, have been caught up in an unexpected blaze with no escape. I, along with the Philadelphia Fire Department, encourage you all to take precautions to prevent unnecessary fires, and deaths. Vist the PFD official site for safety tips on how to protect you and your home.
I’d like to end this post with a moment of silence for all the lives lost to Philadelphia fires.
Kensington, Kensington Fire, Potter street, H street, the Simple Way, Philadelphia Fire Department, fire safety
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