Adam Thiel: Latest News

PHILADELPHIA - A devastating fire claimed the lives of 12 people, including nine children, in Philadelphia last year; and now the victims' families are taking legal action.The families of five people killed in the Fairmount rowhome fire are suing building owner the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the city’s public housing agency and the state’s biggest landlord."This terrible tragedy resulting in precious loss of life could and should have been avoided… we are now prepared to move forward, seeking not only compensation, but accountability," Tom Kline, of Kline & Specter, announced in a statement Tuesday.The lawsuit claims the Housing Authority knew the 4-bedroom apartment was overcrowded with 14 people, and that the building had no fire escape or hardwired smoke detectors.RELATED COVERAGE: Philadelphia fire: Lighter, Christmas tree started fire that killed 12 in FairmountNine children were among the 12 people who died in the January 2022 blaze, which officials later said was caused by a Christmas tree ignited by a lighter."We believe with certainty - so 99 to 100% confidence - that the first item ignited in this blaze was a Christmas tree," Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said after an investigation last year. "We believe with near certainty, based on the evidence, the ignition source for this tree was a lighter that was located nearby."Fourteen people were authorized to live in the four-bedroom upper apartment that "suffered the tragedy," Kelvin Jeremiah, the housing authority's president and CEO, said last year.

PHILADELPHIA - Thursday marks one year since Category 4 Hurricane Ida tore through the East Coast, bringing devastation and damage to the Delaware Valley. According to FOX Weather, the storm made landfall in Grand Isle, Louisiana, before moving along the East Coast, dumping more than 10 inches of rain across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

PHILADELPHIA - Electrical wiring caused the devastating fire that has temporarily shut down Jim's Steak on South Street, according to Philadelphia fire officials.Fire crews responded to a multi-alarm fire at the famous cheese steak shop Friday morning. They battled the blaze for several hours as smoke billowed from the windows and back of the shop.Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said the fire moved through the HVAC unit, making it difficult to quickly extinguish.Jim's assistant manager says she noticed it was extremely warm inside when she arrived at the building Friday morning.

PHILADELPHIA - As investigators work to determine what sparked a Kensington rowhome fire that killed a father and his three children last weekend, Philadelphia is battling a backlog of unfulfilled smoke alarm requests.Yamalier, 5, Yadriel, 9, and 12-year-old Alexangel Arroyo-Santana perished in a rowhome fire early Sunday morning on the 3200 block of Hartville Street in Kensington. Neighbors say their father, Alexis, also died in the blaze after he told his wife to jump out a window to safety while he went further into the home to save the children. "He had a chance to jump out, but he ended up telling his wife to jump out of the window. He’ll get the children, so he died a hero," a neighbor who asked to remain anonymous said.Fire investigators have not pinpointed what started the fire, but they said no smoke alarms were sounding when firefighters arrived. The School District of Philadelphia identified three children killed in a rowhome fire as Yamalier, 5, Yadriel, 9, and 12-year-old Alexangel.

SKYFOX over the scene of the deadly fatal January fire in Fairmount that claimed the lives of 12 people, including eight children.  PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia fire officials say they are frustrated with the number of severe and fatal fires happening across the city. Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel expressed his frustration at a press conference detailing a fatal fire that took the lives of four, including three children, on Sunday afternoon. "Right now we are frustrated and we are mourning," he said as he explained the residence had no working smoke detectors. Thiel says before Sunday's fire, there were 17 fatal fires in 2022 so far, including the fatal Fairmount fire that claimed the life of 12 people, including eight children. Additionally, since January 1, 38 people were injured in fire-related incidents and more than 312 families were displaced, Thiel said. "It's just too much" Thiel said as he explained how firefighters are frustrated. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESHe's also encouraging everyone to make sure their smoke detectors are working properly and be aware of safety tips that can save their lives in case of an emergency. "The best fire is the one that never starts," he said. You can request a smoke alarm through Philly311 and the Fire Department will come install one in your home. To qualify, you must live in a one or two-family home occupied by the owner.

PHILADELPHIA - The Schuylkill River spilled over its banks on Thursday morning following a night of intense rainfall and damaging storms from a system that once formed Hurricane Ida. Incredible aerial footage from SkyFOX showed just how far the water encroached into Philadelphia to submerge city streets, buildings and parked cars.

One person has died and one is in critical condition after an early house fire in East Mount Airy. EAST MOUNT AIRY - One person was fatally injured in an early morning house fire in East Mount Airy, Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said.Firefighters quickly responded to a fire call on the 2400 block of 77th Avenue Saturday, just before 6 a.m.Crews were met with heavy flames when they arrived, but they made quick work and brought the fire under control just before 6:15 a.m.Two people were found inside the dwelling and transported to two hospitals.

PHILADELPHIA - Firefighters, paramedics and EMTs from the Philadelphia Fire Department who are working on the front lines of the pandemic will receive the first of a two-dose coronavirus vaccination on Wednesday morning. Emergency medical responders will be inoculated with the Moderna vaccine beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Two people died and one is critical after early morning row home fire in West Oak Lane. WEST OAK LANE - Two people are dead and one is in critical condition after an early morning row home fire in West Oak Lane.Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel explained firefighters were called to the 6700 block of North 17th Street early Saturday, about 4:30 in the morning.

KENSINGTON - Authorities say a mother and her three children were found dead following a fire at a row home Saturday morning in Kensington. Crews were called to the 3300 block of Kip Street just before 8 a.m. and found heavy flames and smoke coming from the first and second floors of the residence, Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said.Officials say a 35-year-old woman was found in the downstairs portion of the home.

KENSINGTON - A home burned Saturday in Philadelphia, and it appears four people died, authorities said.Crews were called to the blaze in the Kensington neighborhood shortly before 8 a.m.

FOX 29's Dawn TImmeney reports.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel talks about the toll the fires have taken on firefighters amid protests that turned to riots and looting over the weekend in the city.