Investigation Underway Following Destructive Phoenixville Blaze

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — An investigation is underway following the devastating four-alarm blaze Wednesday that laid waste to much of the fledgling SteelTown village in Phoenixville.

Additional details emerged following the fire, which caught late in the morning at the low income housing unit under construction Wheatland Street.

Fire officials said the blaze was aggravated by several factors. To begin with, a water main break nearby led to a water shortage for the engines that first arrived on the scene, leading a second alarm to be struck. Tanker crews had to bring water to the scene to help squash the blaze, and connections to hydrants that were blocks away from the fire had to be made.

>>'Stay Out Of Phoenixville' Police Warn As Destructive Fire Rages

Furthermore, since the housing project was still in its nascent stages, there were no sprinkler systems operating, giving the fire a chance to quickly spread. The frames of the homes were all made of wood, so it easily caught.

As has been previously reported, Chester County had declared a Red Flag warning for the area, indicating that conditions were ripe for a fire: low humidity, hot, and high winds. However, authorities called the warning "coincidental."

Officials did not speculate as to the actual cause or origin of the fire.

It took about an hour for the fire to be brought under control, and crews remained at scene for around six hours.

Two homes across the street from SteelTown were damaged in the fire. Fire officials characterized the damage to one home as "moderate" and the other as "minor." The blaze rained ash on houses in the area, and embers sparked a brush fire in the neighborhood nearby, which was swiftly extinguished.

>>Conditions Ripe On Wednesday For Devastating Phoenixville Blaze

SteelTown, meanwhile, faces a long road to recovery. Officials obviously expect a delay in the ultimate completion of the controversial $13 million project, which was finally approved last year.Significant progress had been made prior to Wednesday's fire.

The fire required the response of dozens of firefighters and first responders, who worked to contain the blaze and ensure that a bad situation did not become much worse. Phoenixville was assisted by crews from Kimberton, Valley Forge, Upper Providence, Black Rock, Berwyn, Collegeville, East Whiteland, Friendship Ambulance, Jefferson, Liberty, Limerick, Linfield, Lionville, Malvern, NORCO, Skippack, Trappe, Trappe EMS, West End, North Penn Goodwill Service, Chester County Department of Emergency Services, and the PA State Police.

Local leaders and authorities commended the work of personnel on the scene, who battled temperatures soaring into the 80s as the fire raged. Two firefighters and one police officer were hospitalized for heat exhaustion.

"We must never take for granted the volunteer service they provide," State Rep. Becky Corbin (R-155) said on Thursday. "Without their dedication and service, we would be lost."

Image via Phoenixville Fire Department