UPDATE: At Least 12 Killed In Philadelphia Fire

UPDATE

PHILADELPHIA — At least 12 people, including several children, died in a residential fire Wednesday morning in Philadelphia, according to officials.

The fire broke out at about 6:36 a.m. at 869 N. 23rd St. in the Fairmount neighborhood, officials said.

Philadelphia Fire Department crews found heavy fire coming from the second floor of a three-story row house that was converted into two apartments, one occupying the first floor and the other occupying the second and third floors.

As crews battled the fire, they learned of multiple deaths related to the fire.

Eight of those who died were children, whose ages are unknown, and four were adults. Eight other people were able to escape the fire. Officials earlier in the day reported 13 deaths, and the change reflects First Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy comments on the fire's death toll being dynamic as the investigation continues.

Firefighters were able to rescue one child from the building, but the child did not survive.

At least two people were taken to hospitals.

Initially, officials said the first-floor unit had eight tenants, and the second- and third-floor units had 18 tenants, however it's now unclear what the actual numbers were.

The only exits of the property were the back and front doors, Murphy said.

Murphy said the building had battery-operated smoke detectors, but that none of them worked.

The property is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, officials confirmed.

According to NBC10, a Philadelphia Housing Authority spokesperson said smoke alarm batteries were replaced during a May 2021 inspection.

Mayor Jim Kenney said the incident marked one of the most tragic days in the city's history.

It's unclear where in the building the fire began.

Murphy said the fire marshal's office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the cause of the fire, though it's not necessarily considered suspicious.

According to reports and social media accounts, neighbors could hear screams coming from the building and that 911 calls were going unanswered.

However, according to the city, 911 got 36 calls about the fire from 6:36 a.m. to 6:39 a.m., with the first call answered at 6:36:28 Firefighters were dispatched at 6:38 a.m. and arrived at 6:40, the city said in a news release.

The fire was under control in about 50 minutes.