A destructive house fire tore through a twin home in the Somerton section of Northeast Philadelphia early on New Year’s Day, injuring four people and prompting emergency rescues as flames spread through the structure. The incident occurred along the 10000 block of Nandina Way, drawing a large emergency response from Philadelphia police and fire crews during the early morning hours.
Emergency calls came in not long after midnight, with officials reporting that crews were dispatched between approximately 12:30 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. for a fire with multiple people trapped inside the residence. Fire officials later confirmed the blaze likely began around 12:35 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy flames and thick smoke coming from the garage area, and the fire was spreading into the main structure of the home.
The fire quickly spread through the first and second floors and eventually extended to all three stories of the building. Video captured by a Ring camera recorded the sound of a loud explosion at the duplex shortly before flames overtook the structure. Additional dramatic footage shared through the Citizen App showed intense flames consuming the home as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Fire officials said water supply issues complicated suppression efforts during the response.
Four people were rescued from the home. Fire officials confirmed that all four were injured and transported to a hospital for treatment related to smoke inhalation. Police previously reported that three of the hospitalized individuals were two women and one man. During the incident, one person was seen being removed from the scene on a stretcher while firefighters continued to battle the flames.
As the fire progressed, part of the twin home partially collapsed, increasing the danger at the scene. Firefighters worked for about an hour before the fire was brought under control shortly after 1:30 a.m., with officials later confirming it was fully contained by approximately 1:35 a.m.
Residents in the area reported hearing what they believed were fireworks shortly before the fire began, though the Philadelphia Fire Department has not confirmed the cause. Officials said the origin of the fire remains under investigation.
In the aftermath, city crews secured the property by placing a fence around the damaged structure and labeling it a safety hazard. The extent of the damage affected neighboring residences and left multiple people without homes at the start of the new year. Authorities indicated that the structure may need to be torn down due to the severity of the damage.
The American Red Cross is assisting residents who were displaced by the fire as investigators continue working to determine what caused the blaze.
