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Fire-damaged 4730 Pine St closed for 6 months, residents seek housing (updated)

Posted on 23 December 2014 by WestPhillyLocal.com

fire47thpine3UPDATE: We’ve just learned of another fundraiser for a family displaced by the fire. They’re currently in a temporary housing and need some funding for a new apartment, clothing, and furniture. Here’s a GoFundMe page to help Marlon and Lulu.

The four-story Westover apartment building at 4730 Pine Street, which was damaged by a fire on Friday, Dec. 19, has been closed for repairs for at least six months, according to building resident Ruth Morgan.

“Everyone is looking for a place to live now,” Morgan posted this morning on our Facebook page.

This afternoon, we spoke to a policeman who was patrolling outside the building, and he confirmed that the section of the Westover Apartments where the fire broke out is now closed. Two adjacent sections of The Westover apartment complex, at 4720 and 4740 Pine St, were not damaged by the fire and are occupied. The Westover Apartments are managed by Campus Apartments.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the Fire Marshal’s office.

An online fundraising campaign has been going on for two of the building’s residents, who lost all of their belongings in the fire.

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Fire at The Westover apartments, 47th and Pine (updated)

Posted on 19 December 2014 by WestPhillyLocal.com

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UPDATE (12/20/2014): PhillyFireNews.com is reporting that a firefighter responding to Friday’s fire at 4730 Pine St sustained burns and required medical treatment. No injuries were reported among the building’s residents. The fire reportedly started in a first floor apartment of the four-story building and spread to the second floor. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

(10:55 p.m.): A GoFundMe page has been set up to help a couple displaced by the fire. Kristie and Mark’s apartment was destroyed and they lost all of their belongings in the fire, according to information posted on the page. They are currently staying with family.

If you know of any other people displaced by the fire please let us know (editor@westphillylocal.com).

The Red Paw Relief Team again did a great job providing emergency assistance to pets:

(1:10 p.m.): Several residents have been evacuated. The streets in the two-block radius around the fire are closed.

(12:59 p.m.): Fire crews are at the scene and the fire has been taken under control. The fire began on the second floor in an apartment facing Pine Street.

West Philly Local readers are reporting that a fire broke out at The Westover apartment building at 4730 Pine St (across from the Garden Court Eatery), shortly after 12 p.m.. We’re trying to get more information. Stay tuned. Twitter Photo by @AtomicChristine:

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Windermere fire victims reach multi-million-dollar settlement

Posted on 11 December 2014 by Mike Lyons

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Dozens of former residents of the Windermere Court apartments at 48th and Walnut, which burned down in early 2011, have scored a tentative multi-million-dollar victory in a class action lawsuit against the building’s owners.

The suit was filed soon after the devastating January 2011 fire and claimed that the building’s owners and management company failed to maintain smoke detectors, fire alarms and the four-story building’s sprinkler system. The suit was filed against owners David, Sam and Aron Ginsberg, all from New Jersey, and the management company that oversaw maintenance of the building.

The residents’ attorney, Thomas More Marrone, said in a statement that residents were in tears in the court hallways when they heard the news of the proposed $4.75 million settlement, which was reached three days after the civil trial began.Fire-address-300x225

Most of the residents fled the four-story building with very few possessions and were barred from re-entering their apartments, prompting weeks of protests following the fire. The building was demolished in April 2011.

Before the demolition, residents were told they could request belongings from their apartments, but they had to fit into two garbage bags.

The fire prompted an outpouring of support from West Philly residents, businesses and non-profits, many of whom organized fundraisers and collected clothing for the more than 100 displaced Windermere residents. Animal relief organizations also worked around the clock to help save many of the pets that didn’t make it out of the building.

Here is an interview days after the fire with one of the plaintiffs named in the case, J.B. Farley, on the quick demolition of the building.

Here is video of the fire:

Mike Lyons

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Fire displaces residents at 51st and Ludlow (updated)

Posted on 24 November 2014 by WestPhillyLocal.com

UPDATE 2 (8:35 p.m.): Several pets were also affected by today’s fire at 51st and Ludlow. The Red Paw Emergency Relief Team were on the scene searching for cats missing after the fire. Sadly, two cats perished in the fire and two more are still missing:

UPDATE: Red Cross is assisting six people affected by the fire. We’re trying to confirm neighbors’ information that no one was injured in the fire.

4:40 p.m.: West Philly Local readers are reporting a fire at a three-story duplex at the corner of 51st and Ludlow. Smoke is coming out of the 2nd and 3rd floor windows. Fire fighters are on the scene.

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Photos by Matty Starrdust.

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Overnight fire, evacuations at West Park Apartments

Posted on 07 November 2014 by WestPhillyLocal.com

An overnight fire at West Park Apartments, a highrise apartment complex located just north of Market Street near 45th, led to the evacuation of dozens of residents. No injuries were reported.

The fire was reported at approximately 1:45 a.m. on the 18th floor of the building located at 4445 Holden Street. It was put out in about 30 minutes, according to reports.

Residents who live on the 17th, 18th and 19th floor of the building and a number of other residents were evacuated. The 17th floor reportedly sustained water damage. It is currently not known what caused the fire.

 

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Police rescue two people in overnight fire at 39th and Aspen

Posted on 12 July 2014 by WestPhillyLocal.com

Two cops rescued people from an overnight fire in the Mantua section. The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday on the first floor of a three-story standalone house on the 3900 block of Aspen Street, according to various reports. Two 16th district police officers, one of them a former firefighter, helped two people escape the flames. Reportedly, a firefighter sustained a minor injury in the fire.

Audio is available from the Fire Department call from the scene (below), presented by PhillyFireFeed.com (the address on the audio is wrong). 6ABC has a video from the scene.


 

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