Fire Engulfs Abandoned Philadelphia Store

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) – Firefighters were on the scene of a three alarm fire at a Kensington shoe store on North Front Street Tuesday morning.

According to fire fighters, crews were called to the scene at 5:11 a.m. for heavy smoke at a Payless Shoes on the 2300 block of North Front Street.The fire, however, engulfed an abandoned building that backed up to the shoe store.

The extreme temperatures have made battling the blaze difficult, and rendered some fire hydrants unusable.

Photos: Kensington Three-Alarm Fire

SEPTA stations in the area of the fire have been shut down as a precaution due to the risk of icing. The fire was just under the Dauphin Street station of the Market-Frankford Line. SEPTA is running shuttle buses between Berks and Huntington Stations.

The fire was placed under control just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

No firefighters were injured.

The Fire Commissioner said Tuesday morning that no residents were affected by the fire, and power and gas was only shut off to the building involved. Gas was shut off for one neighboring building as well.

SEPTA Stations in that area will remain closed, pending an inspection of the rail lines for icing.

Road crews are working to salt the roads to help with the icing in the area.