WTFX
Reprinted with Permission

PHILADELPHIA - Seven Philadelphia firefighters were injured, one of them critically, battling a two-alarm, early-morning high-rise fire in North Philadelphia.


Flames could be seen shooting out of the windows in the building just before 6 a.m.

The building sits in the 1500 block of Judson Way, near the intersection of 24th and Jefferson streets and in the area of Girard College. The fire was reported at 5:48 a.m.

Residents were evacuated, some of them having been startled out of their sleep. They reported being woken by the alarms and the smell of smoke.

By 6:42 a.m., it appeared that firefighters had made good progress. Mostly smoke was seen pouring from three windows where flames were previously spotted.

Shortly thereafter, SkyFox showed one firefighter being taken by stretcher from the fire scene to an ambulance.

Later, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Ayers confirmed that a total of seven firefighters were injured at the scene. One firefighter, who was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, was listed in critical condition and being transferred to University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

The other injured firefighters were being treated at Temple University Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Three residents were injured, including one adult and two children. They are expected to be OK.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

View more videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com.

View more videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com.