At least 12 people died in a Wednesday morning fire in Philadelphia at a three-story building that was constructed in the 1920s.
Philadelphia’s deputy fire commissioner said that four smoke detectors were installed in the row building but none were operating. The commissioner said that the detectors were battery-operated and contained 10-year lithium batteries.
CNN reported that 26 people lived in the three-story building, which was owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority. The building was originally a single-family home in Philadelphia, but was legally subdivided into two apartments in the 1950s. CNN said the building has no record of safety violations and has three minor complaints over the years.
The origin and cause of the fire have not yet been determined. Firefighters did indicate heavy fire coming from the second-floor kitchen area.
Dave Lubach is the managing editor of the facility market.
