Tire Center Fire Spreads To 4 Homes

PHILADELPHIA - Flames broke out at a tire center in Frankford early Wednesday and then through four homes, forcing residents to evacuate to a nearby school for shelter.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. on the 5300 block of Torresdale Avenue. Fire crews were originally called out to the Trinidad Tires Center. Then, the fire and smoke spread to neighboring homes and the battle became bigger.

By the time crews arrived at the scene, it was a two-alarm fire. By 5 a.m. it had become a three-alarm blaze, but it was fully extinguished by 5:30 a.m.

Fox 29 News was told crews felt they could have gotten there quicker under normal conditions, but they were apparently having a hard time because many of the side streets were icy and some have not been plowed since Saturday's storm, Fox 29's Nefertiti Jaquez reported.

Fire crews were keeping the media at bay as they battled the flames into Wednesday morning. The smoke and fumes from the tire store were one of their main concerns when it came to folks being in the area.

Forty-two residents were evacuated from their homes, but no injuries have been reported.

About 100 firefighters responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.