May 1, 2008 1:00 pm US/Eastern
Area Church To Be Torn Down After 6-Alarm Fire
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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A multi-alarm fire engulfed a church in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion section on April 30.
CBS
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A multi-alarm fire engulfed a church in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion section.
CBS
A six-alarm fire in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia left an area church in ruins and displaced several families Wednesday morning. Crews are expected to demolish what remains of the burned building Thursday.
Authorities said the fire broke out at about 7:45 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Baptist Church in the 3200 block of W. Berks Streets.
Flames quickly consumed the four-story building and forced the evacuation of homes immediately east of the church.
Firefighters struck a sixth alarm at about 9 a.m. after five nearby row homes and power lines caught fire. Power was shut off for several hours in the area and street closures caused a traffic delays on Interstate 76.
While crews had the fire under control at about 9:45 a.m., only a small portion of the church was still standing. Deputy Fire Chief Tom Garrity said the age and construction of the building had a major role to play in the fast spreading blaze.
"These old buildings are wood interiors, wood floors, solid wood beams," Garrity said.
Three firefighters and a civilian suffered minor injuries and were treated at an area hospital.
Parishioners on scene say they will rebuild.
"I don't always know why God does what he does but I trust God that even if his purpose, I don't see it now, I'll see it in the future," Rev. Darrell Cook said.
The Red Cross said they were providing aid to nine residents displaced after embers from the burning church sparked flames at five connecting row homes. Two of the homes affected were vacant.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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