We forgot to mention a couple of posts ago that there will be two more fundraisers for the Windermere fire victims this week.

The first will be Wednesday, March 2 at Drexel’s Mandell Theater (33rd and Chestnut) at 7:30 p.m. The event features performances by the Blue Diamond Dragon Step Team, the Chinese Graduate Dance Club, the Treble Makers, Drexel Jhalak, the Drexel Comedy Football Team and more. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell is also scheduled to be in the house. All proceeds go to the Walnut Hill Community Association fire victims fund.

A second fundraiser is set for Friday, March 4 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.). The “Arts for the Cause” show features a bunch of talented performers, including jazz vocalist Rajdulari, Monica McIntyre and the Rosemary Fiki Band.

Here is a video of Monica McIntyre and friends performing “Ghetto Magic” at The Rotunda last January.

The Walnut Hill Community Association is sponsoring a benefit for the Windermere fire victims on March 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Monumental Baptist Church at 50th and Locust. All proceeds will be donated to a fund that the community association has set up for the victims. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers are scheduled to be in attendance.

Here is a flier for the event (click to enlarge):

The Philadelphia Fire Marshall’s Office has confirmed that the Feb. 16 fire at 4500 Walnut St. above Saad’s Halal Restaurant was the work of an arson.

Deputy Chief Frank Bonner would not pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, which destroyed three floors of apartments above Saad’s, but did say it was intentionally set.

“It’s an open investigation,” Bonner said today, noting that anyone with information on the fire should notify the 18th police district.

He also confirmed that the man shown in a video first released on West Philly Local being led from the building and handcuffed during the fire is not a suspect in the case.

The case now goes to detectives in the 18th police district.

The fire began on the third floor of the four-story building, trapping residents on the top floor. All the residents were rescued from the fourth floor and two people were taken to hospital for minor injuries.

We are happy to report that Saad’s Halal Restaurant at 4500 Walnut St. has reopened after a fire on Feb. 17 that heavily damaged the three floors of apartments above the restaurant.

The fire began on a third floor apartment, according to the Philadelphia Fire Commissioner’s Office, and the cause is still under investigation. The fire destroyed the top two floors of the building, forcing out about two dozen residents. The apartments will require extensive rebuilding and the roof of the building will likely need replaced.

Saad’s suffered some water damage and minor smoke damage, but is back in business.

The fire commissioner’s office also confirmed this morning speculation that smoking in bed caused the Feb. 16 fire at the single-story Transition to Independent Living Inc. building at 4536 Spruce St. The official explanation was “discarded cigarette in unit 4.”

The Philadelphia Weekly’s Tara Murtha has taken a thorough look at the aftermath of the Windermere fire for today’s paper. The piece, “Burning Questions in West Philly Apartment Complex Fire,” fleshes out all the parties in this tragic story – from the residents protesting for access, to the owners’ PR agent to a spokesman for the Mayor’s Office. The story also introduces us to a little known city agency that seems to share in some of the responsibility – Philadelphia’s County Animal Rescue Team (PHL-CART).

Many of us have been following this story for more than a month. Murtha’s piece is a must-read for a look behind the emotions and blame to see what a breakdown in communication between a city government, its residents and private enterprise looks like.

2:46 p.m.: Police say no arrests were made at the fire last night, but that some people were resistant to leave their apartments.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the two-alarm fire that destroyed the top two floors of the four-story building at 4500 Walnut St. last night. Two people were hospitalized. The fire began in the apartments above Saad’s Halal Restaurant, which is on the ground floor.

Fire department spokesman Chief Richard Davison said the fire appeared to start on the third floor, trapping residents on the fourth floor inside the building. Firefighters rescued several residents from the fourth floor.

Fire crews received the call at 6:46 p.m. and the fire was under control by 7:36 p.m.

A heavy police presence was also on the scene and a man was pulled from the building, handcuffed and led away from the scene. Police would not comment on why the man was placed into custody. We posted video of that incident last night here.

Saad’s suffered water damage and as of this morning had not reopened. Plates and food were still on tables inside the restaurant at about 8 a.m. this morning, evidence of people fleeing.