Six-alarmer
destroys warehouse

A six-alarm fire destroyed a Tacony packaging product manufacturing plant and forced the temporary closure of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge early Tuesday morning.
No civilian injuries were reported in connection with the blaze at 5040 Robbins Ave., according to executive chief Daniel Williams, the Philadelphia Fire Department spokesman. Meanwhile, one firefighter reported a minor injury at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, more than eight hours after the fire was declared under control.
In all, 41 fire trucks and 150 firefighters, plus three medic units and several special units, fought the flames, which were first reported at 12:03 a.m., Williams said.
The fire broke out in a one-story structure but soon spread into an adjoining three-story, 9,375-square-foot brick industrial building occupied by the LR Shipping Supply Company.
Engine 38, based at Torresdale and Longshore avenues, was the first unit on the scene and firefighters observed heavy smoke billowing from the third floor of the building. A second alarm was called at 12:12 a.m., followed by a third at 12:38, a fourth at 12:55, a fifth at 1:03 and a sixth at 1:45.
The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge was closed to traffic at 1:18 a.m. due to heavy smoke, Williams said. The bridge was later reopened.
Because of the remote location of the site — east of Interstate 95 along the Delaware River — firefighters used long 5-inch hoses to carry water from the closest hydrants and also used a fireboat to combat the flames from the river.
"That was a challenge," Williams said. "We brought a lot of five-inch hose lines on the scene. It’s like taking a fire hydrant and moving it closer to the fire."
Eventually, the larger building’s roof was fully engulfed in flames and collapsed. The blaze was declared under control at 2:49 a.m.
Four engine companies and two ladders remained on the scene late Tuesday morning to extinguish any lingering hot spots. The fire marshal’s office was unable to investigate the cause of the blaze on Tuesday because of the unstable condition of the buildings. ••