Philadelphia Blaze Kills 4-Year-Old

April 16, 2008
A police officer who went into the house was also taken to the hospital to be checked out.

PHILADELPHIA --

A North Philadelphia fire killed a 4-year-old girl and critically injured a toddler girl Wednesday morning, fire officials said.

The fire occurred at 11:25 a.m. in the third-floor apartment of a rowhouse on the 3400 block of West Westmoreland Street in the city's East Falls section.

The flames were contained less than 20 minutes later.

The younger girl, believed to be about 18 months old, was taken to Temple University Hospital in critical condition, and the 24-year-old mother of the children was also taken there after suffering burns to her legs and feet.

A police officer who went into the house was also taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Fire officials said the mother was married about six months ago. Her husband was not home at the time of the blaze, which heavily damaged the apartment.

The fire commissioner said there were no visible smoke alarms.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the blaze.

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