South Philly Fire Destroys Building and Leaves One Resident Hospitalized

A huge and dramatic fire destroyed an 11-unit condominium complex in South Philadelphia in early October, leaving one person in the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. It took firefighters more than two hours to subdue the blaze, and whatever is left of the gutted building will have to be leveled.

Residents were relatively lucky considering that no one heard the smoke detectors; most say they were alerted to the fire only after being woken by police and firefighters on the scene. It is not surprising that fire and burn injuries are much more common in buildings without functioning smoke detectors.

Smoke inhalation, rather than burns, is the leading cause of deaths in fires – about 50-80 percent. Symptoms range from coughing, nausea and sleepiness to difficulty breathing. Smoke inhalation can cause damage in several ways – by simple heat (thermal damage), or by poisoning and pulmonary swelling due to the type of smoke that results from the fire. The inhalations of toxic substances (like asbestos, for example) can be very dangerous and can result in long-term health problems. In addition to smoke inhalation, building fires can cause burns, and depending on the severity of the damage, the burns can be completely devastating and can have a low success rate in terms of recovery.

Cooking fires are the most common cause of house fires. Cooking fires usually occur when an oven or stove is left unattended. Cigarette smoking and problems with the heating and electrical systems are also common causes. Studies show that fires that start in bedrooms or a living area are more likely to result in injury, and that fire injuries are highest among the elderly, minorities and low-income citizens.