A blaze that erupted on the second floor of an apartment building in Upper Darby Township on Saturday, Dec. 20, left a veteran firefighter dead and seven people injured, officials said.
The Fire
The fire ignited around 11 a.m. on the second floor of the building located on the 3200 block of Township Line Road. Responding firefighters quickly brought the flames under control, preventing further spread. The blaze caused significant damage to apartments on the second and third floors, according to officials.
Escape Efforts
One resident, Raymond Erwin, told NBC10 that he, his girlfriend, their dog, and several neighbors-including children-were desperate to escape the second floor but could not see through the thick smoke. “That point we were all kind of panicking, and we just ran back to one of our neighbors’ apartments,” Erwin said. “We closed the door and we went to the deck from there. We just kind of waited to see how they were going to extract us out of here and get us down with the ladders.”
Victims and Displacement
Tony Rowley, 58, a longtime member of the Lansdowne Fire Company, was killed in the fire. Seven other people were injured, including Rowley’s wife and another firefighter. A spokesperson for the Lansdowne Fire Company said Rowley’s wife suffered serious injuries. Six surviving victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while a seventh was placed in critical condition. Around 75 people were displaced by the incident.
Rowley had recently dealt with medical issues, as noted by the spokesperson. The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed by officials.
Support for Displaced Residents
The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Delaware County Emergency Services, and other support groups have stepped in to assist residents who were forced to leave their homes. These organizations are providing temporary shelter and essential supplies to those affected.
Key Takeaways
- Veteran firefighter Tony Rowley died in an Upper Darby apartment fire on Dec. 20.
- Seven people were injured; six with non-life-threatening injuries, one in critical condition.
- Approximately 75 residents were displaced, with aid from Red Cross, Salvation Army, and local emergency services.
The incident underscores the dangers firefighters face and the importance of swift emergency response. As authorities investigate the cause, the community mourns the loss of a dedicated public servant and seeks support for those who lost their homes.
