Naceeha Jones could barely keep up ahead of the flames tearing through homes on her West Philadelphia block overnight as she rushed to bang on neighbors' doors.
"The fire began spreading really fast," Jones, who lives on Larchwood Avenue near 58th Street where the fire broke out about 1 a.m., told NBC10 Saturday morning. "I ran from house to house, and the fire just followed me."
The fire eventually spread to several houses -- neighbors estimated that seven or eight suffered damage during the fire and as firefighters worked to stop it -- before firefighters placed it under control about 1:45 a.m. Neighbors on the block said a couch on the porch of a house somehow ignited, causing almost half the block to go up in flames in the span of minutes.
Fire officials didn't confirm the cause of the blaze, which left four people in the hospital with injuries, early Saturday. But the description neighbors gave -- of inside furniture on a porch outside a home catching ablaze and lighting porches on fire -- was reminiscent of the tragic blaze on Gesner Street two Julys ago that claimed the lives of four young children.
"These people got evicted out of their house, so they were putting furniture on the porch and stuff like that, and that's where the fire started. On the porch, on the furniture," Najma Williams, who lives across the street from the homes that caught fire, said.
The blaze on Gesner Street also started with a couch on a porch catching fire. Couches made of certain materials are highly flammable, and fire spreads quickly through the connected porches on old rowhouses, making for dangerous conditions for residents.
Fortunately for the residents of Larchwood Avenue, though several homes are damaged, officials didn't report any life-threatening injuries. All four of the injured people remained at the hospital Saturday morning as crews worked to clean up the block.
A man died on a Philadelphia street early Saturday after police say someone shot him.
Police responded to Wingohocking Street near 8th, in Hunting Park, just before 1:30 a.m., authorities said. There, officers found a man estimated to be in his late 20s or early 30s lying on the pavement, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Medics pronounced the man dead there a short time later.
Police have not yet identified the victim, and said they have not made any arrests.
Crime-scene investigators worked at the scene for several hours early Saturday. It's unclear if anyone witnessed the shooting.
A teen girl is recovering after she was stabbed in the neck inside the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
The 13-year-old girl was inside a home on the 5200 block of Marion Street at 3:02 p.m. when she was stabbed once in the left side of the neck. She was taken to Einstein Hospital where she is currently in stable condition.
No arrests have been made and a weapon has not been recovered.
A group of local heroes rescued a fox tangled in a soccer net in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
New Hope Eagle Volunteer Firefighters, along with Solebury Township Police and Medic 146 came to the rescue of the fox after its head was stuck in the soccer net.
A video posted on Facebook shows the group cutting the net that appears to be tangled around the animal's head. They then released the fox back into the woods. Take a look at the rescue in the video embedded above.
Police are searching for a man who was caught on camera stealing bicycles at two separate locations, according to investigators.
Police say the man was first caught stealing a bike after gaining entry to a residential garage on the 300 block of Brown Street at 11:28 p.m. on July 2. Once inside, the suspect took a silver bicycle valued at $600 and fled in an unknown direction, according to investigators.
The second incident occurred on July 4 when the same man gained entry to Trophy Bikes located at 712 North 2nd Street, police said. The suspect shattered the glass window with a metal cap from the sidewalk, according to investigators. Once inside, the suspect took a Jamis Coda Sport bicycle valued at $549 from a rack in the window and fled in an unknown direction, police said.
The suspect is described as a thin, white male in his mid 20's with short hair and light facial hair. In both of the incidents caught on camera, he appears to be wearing dark sneakers with light color laces, police said.
Police ask if you have any information on these thefts or the suspect, to please contact Central Detective Division SIU at 215-686-3047 or text a tip to PPDTIP. All tips are confidential.
Severe storms moved into the region Saturday leading to a ground stop, flood advisory and a severe thunderstorm warning.
Severe thunderstorms moved into parts of the area Saturday afternoon. A Flood Advisory was in effect for Salem, New Castle, Gloucester, Delaware and Chester counties until 8:15 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was also in effect for Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Gloucester County, New Jersey, New Castle County, Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey but later expired.
A ground stop was in effect for flights departing to Philadelphia International Airport Saturday due to severe weather conditions. The airport announced the FAA ground stop around 4:30 p.m. and advised travelers to check the flight status of their carrier. The ground stop was later lifted around 5:45 p.m.
The storms should clear overnight leading to sunny conditions Sunday.
Stay with NBC10.com for the latest weather updates.
Falls Township Police are on the look out for burglars who broke into multiple homes and stole cash and electronics in Bucks County early Saturday morning, all while people were sleeping inside.
Police believe more than one person broke into rear windows of homes located on Simons Drive in Morrisville overnight. Among the wallets, cash, cell phones and laptop computers stolen was a 55" screen TV that was mounted to a wall.
Resident John Mason and his neighbors woke up to investigators asking if anyone saw the burglars going in through back windows.
"It makes you nervous," Mason said. "I would think it was professionals and more than one person because there's four houses that were hit ... They'd have to do it pretty quick and go."
Police say the thieves also tried breaking into homes on another nearby street but were not able to find any unlocked windows. Neighbor David Bowers believes they skipped his home because he was right in their path.
"I was sleeping on the couch, right by the back door," said Bowers. "I think we're going to be a lot more careful now."
The Falls Township police chief lives right in the middle of the neighborhood affected. His department is asking people to be vigilant, lock every possible entryway, and call in any suspicious activity to police.
Anyone with information on the thefts can contact Detective Matt Tomcho at 215-949-9100
After the deadly sniper attacks in Dallas that killed 5 police and left 7 wounded, residents have began to show their local police departments how much they appreciate the work their officers do for the community.
The Evesham Police Department received a special 'thank you' from the residents of Marlton, New Jersey.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, the department shared a photo of the surprise breakfast, lunch and dinner that was dropped off to officers from residents in the community.
"In the wake of the tragic Dallas shooting that left five officers dead and seven wounded, the Evesham community has shown it's support for their local police force," the department writes. "Its great knowing that our residents are fully behind us in our mission to keep our exceptional community safe."
Residents provided West Chester Police Department officers lunch as well on Saturday. Along with the meal came flower arrangements for the officers from Kati Mac Floral Designs.
"In light of recent events that have taken place in our country, our department is grateful to have the continued support from our residents and local business owners," the department writes.
Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot and killed a man and then stole the victim’s vehicle while his baby was still inside Saturday afternoon in Penns Grove, New Jersey.
Officials say the suspect shot and killed a 24-year-old man during a confrontation on South Broad Street in Penns Grove around 4:10 p.m. The suspect then entered the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene. The victim’s 1-year-old son was also inside the vehicle at the time, according to investigators.
After an alert was sent out, the victim’s car was found about an hour later on 5th and Wood streets in Philadelphia. The child was also found safely inside the vehicle but the suspect was missing.
The boy, who was not hurt, was reunited with his mother, who investigators say was there during the initial confrontation but had gotten out of the car during the incident. Police have not yet identified the victim or released any information on the suspect. The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate.
As SEPTA's Regional Rail slowdown stretches into its second week, the transit authority geared up to release a modified schedule on Sunday that should ease the burden on passengers.
Since SEPTA removed 120 trains -- a third of its rail fleet -- from service last weekend after workers discovered a serious structural defect on the trains, riders have faced overcrowding and lengthy delays.
SEPTA is now borrowing some trains from other transit agencies in hopes adding extra trains will ease the burden on its passengers.
Stay with NBC10.com and the NBC10 app for continuing updates on the SEPTA shutdown, and keep an eye on SEPTA.org for the very latest transit alerts and schedules.
