Salvation Army Providing Support to Residents Displaced by Philadelphia Apartment Fire

PHILADELPHIA (January 22, 2019) – The Salvation Army of Eastern PA and DE's Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) is working with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and partner agencies to provide support to residents displaced by a devastating fire overnight in the Germantown section of the city.

The fire started just before midnight on Monday, January 21, along the 5700 block of Morris Street in a six-floor apartment building. EDS crews were on scene through the night providing food, comfort and care to firefighters and dozens of people impacted by the blaze.  The building sustained heavy water and smoke damage, leaving as many as 40 individuals without a place to stay.

OEM established a welcome center and temporary shelter for displaced residents at Fels High School, located at 5500 Langdon Street, Philadelphia.  EDS is working with partner agencies to support those residents during this difficult time. EDS is currently providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to evacuees. The temporary shelter is expected to be in operation for a few days until the apartment building is deemed habitable.  Impacted residents should inquire at Fels High School for more information on additional assistance they may need.

This comes as temperatures across the region plunged into the teens Monday night. EDS responded to five fires across the city overnight, providing support to firefighters battling dangerous ice and frigid weather as well as flames.