Three Philadelphia firefighters suffered an electric shock from a high-voltage power line Tuesday evening, with one firefighter classified as a Class 1 Trauma, officials said.
Firefighters responded to a one-alarm blaze at 2401 Cecil B. Moore Avenue to find heavy fire showing on the first floor of the three-story building, which once housed a grocery store with apartments above. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Firefighters contained the fire to the first floor and had the blaze under control within 15 minutes, at 7:20 p.m., said fire department spokesman Tom Honeyford.
According to a fire department press release, three members from Ladder Company 9 were were removing a 35-foot portable ladder from the building when it came in contact with a high voltage PECO wire.
One firefighter was transported to Temple Hospital and the other two were transported to Hahnemann Hospital. They are resting comfortably and the two members at Hahnemann are expected to be released shortly, according to the press release. "The prognosis for all these members is good and a full recovery is expected," the department reported.
The fire marshal's office has determined that the fire originated in a first floor ceiling and was caused by permanent electrical wiring, the press relase said. The incident is under investigation by the fire marshal's office, PECO, and the fire department's safety office, which will develop any necessary training programs to help prevent this type of incident from happening again.
