2 firefighters injured in Philly school fire

By Stephanie Farr
The Philadelphia Daily News

PHILADELPHIA — Two firefighters were injured and more than 400 students are now displaced after a five-alarm fire ripped apart a West Philadelphia charter school before dawn yesterday.

As of last night, fire officials still didn't know the cause or origin of the fire that destroyed the Global Leadership Academy's Wing Site, on Warren Street near 52nd.

A message on the school's website said that students would not report to school until Jan. 18, although it didn't say where they would be reporting when that date arrives.

Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman offered use of the former W.S. Peirce School, at 24th and Christian streets, but there was no word on whether that offer had been accepted.

Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said the blaze broke out in the school's basement about 5:50 a.m. and raged out of control for an hour and 45 minutes.

A fire lieutenant was injured when she fell and a firefighter suffered from exertion, but both injuries were minor, Ayers said.

Firefighters not only had to battle the fire, but also hydrants that had frozen in the frigid weather.

"We had to stretch water from blocks and blocks away just to support the fire companies trying to get water on this blaze," Ayers said.

Companies also prevented the fire from spreading across the street to a lumberyard, and also to a storage facility on the east and a Verizon building on the west, Ayers said.

"The men and women did an excellent job under tough conditions," he said.

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