A Christmas tree is believed to be the cause of a fire that tore through a rowhouse in Philadelphia last week, killing 12 people, including eight children.
Philadelphia firefighters and police work at the scene of a deadly row house fire. The photo was taken by Matt Rourke.
The Associated Press.
After a preliminary investigation, investigators believed that the first item to ignite in the blaze was a Christmas tree in the residence.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 5-year-old boy who survived the fire told investigators he accidentally set the tree on fire while playing with a lighter.
The sole survivor of the fire who was on the second floor around the time of the fire was interviewed by investigators, but he did not say if the cause of the blaze was accidental.
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7. Only one of the smoke alarms was operational. Three smoke alarms were found in a drawer in the kitchen, one in a bedroom, and one on the floor of the residence, all without batteries. The alarm in the basement was late to go off.
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Firefighters were able to control the fire in the morning of January 5. Craig Murphy, first deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department, said during a press conference that the rowhouse had been converted into two apartment units and 26 people were living in them. Three sisters and nine of their children were among the people who died in the fire. Murphy said the building is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
A 5-year-old told investigators that his Christmas tree caught fire while he played with a lighter.
There were 8 children killed by fire in Philadelphia.
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