PHILADELPHIA — Several firefighters were injured while battling a two-alarm house fire on March 2 in Philadelphia’s Wynnefield neighborhood.
The blaze broke out just after 10 p.m. in the 5300 block of Hazelhurst Street. When crews arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the home, WPVI reported.
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According to a statement, the structure “collapsed in a lean-to fashion from the second floor to the first shortly after the main body of fire was knocked down,” trapping several firefighters beneath debris. NBC Philadelphia reported some of the injured members issued mayday calls as they were pinned.
All of the trapped firefighters were removed from the scene and transported to area hospitals. Officials say all are in stable condition.
Executive Chief Daniel McCarty of the Philadelphia Fire Department described the collapse as a “near miss event,” saying that given the conditions at the scene, “the outcome could have been far more tragic.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
