27 year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department killed in building collapse

A Philadelphia firefighter was killed when a fire caused a building to collapse, trapping five others in the rubble.

In the early hours of Saturday morning firefighters with the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to a fire in a commercial building in the Fairhill neighborhood.

The fire was under control within 15 minutes and a family inside was able to escape without injury.

But 90 minutes later as officials were surveying the damage, the building collapsed while five members of the fire department and a building inspector were still inside. 

Firefighters carry the body of their fellow Philadelphia firefighter who died in a house collapse on Saturday

First responders work to reach firefighters trapped in a house collapse early on Saturday morning 

Officials say initially they rescued four people but worked for hours to find and rescue the remaining two people after losing contact

Firefighters are seen carrying the body of their fellow Philadelphia firefighter after removing him from the rubble of the collapsed commercial building 

1st Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy described it as a ‘lean-to/pancake collapse’ in which some collapsed material fell flat on a surface, while other material might have leaned against a wall, creating space. 

‘There were a lot of void spaces,’ Murphy told CNN. 

Officials say initially they rescued four people but worked for hours to find and rescue the remaining two people after losing contact. 

First responders are pictured clearing the rubble from the sudden house collapse that trapped six people 

First responders worked for hours to reach all six people, including five fire fighters and one building inspector 

The aftermath of a commercial building collapse in Philadelphia on Saturday morning  

1st Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy described it as a ‘lean-to/pancake collapse’ in which some collapsed material fell flat on a surface, while other material might have leaned against a wall, creating space

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In the early hours of Saturday firefighters with the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to a fire in a commercial building in the Fairhill neighborhood

Ultimately four of the firefighters and the city licensing and inspections worker were rescued and sent to a local hospital.

But one firefighter, an unidentified 27 year veteran with the department, died in the collapse. 

‘It’s a sad day for the Philadelphia Fire Department,’ Murphy said. ‘Unfortunately our department lost a member bravely fighting a fire then caught in a building collapse.’ 

As of Saturday morning the licensing worker was released and the four firefighters remained hospitalized in stable condition, Commissioner Murphy said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is not believed to be suspicious.