On Christmas Eve, a large fire broke out in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, and it completely destroyed the Arway Linen warehouse.
This business had been part of the community since December 1985 and cleaned about one million laundry items every week.
When the fire started on Tuesday night around 9:15 p.m. on Foulkrod Street, it quickly got out of control and became a serious emergency.
Although firefighters worked hard for hours, they didn’t fully put out the flames until around 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the damage to the warehouse was total.
The fire caused huge losses for the employees who worked there and the neighborhood that relied on the business.
Since many employees had worked there for decades, the emotional impact of the fire is significant.
For example, Mark Kolsky, who started working at Arway Linen when he was 21, has spent more than 40 years of his life in the business.
The fire not only destroyed a building but also wiped out a place filled with memories and a sense of belonging for many in the community.
After the fire, crews quickly brought in heavy equipment to tear down what was left of the warehouse.
Since the building was completely destroyed, the entire structure will need to be rebuilt from the ground up.
While employees are now focused on figuring out how to keep the business going, the neighborhood is mourning the loss of a company that had been a big part of Frankford’s history.
When the fire was burning, thick smoke spread throughout the area, and people became worried about the safety of the air they were breathing.
Because of these concerns, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued a warning on Wednesday morning, telling residents nearby to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities.
While waiting for test results, officials checked the air for anything harmful to people’s health.
By Thursday, after completing their tests, the health department had announced that the air was safe to breathe.
As the tests showed no harmful particles like PM 2.5, officials reassured residents that there was no danger.
When they checked the fire site for toxic chemicals, they also found nothing that could harm people.
Thus, the health department allowed people to return to their normal routines without worrying about the air.
While the cause of the fire is still unknown, investigators are working hard to figure out what happened.
The fire burned for about five hours and caused so much damage that it required a major response from the fire department.
Now, the Frankford neighborhood is left to recover from Arway Linen’s loss, but the employees are determined to rebuild and keep the business running.
Of course, the fire was such a devastating event that it will take some time to move forward.
Still, for the people who live and work in the area, this fire shows their strength and ability to come together in tough times.
