Philly health department says Frankford-area residents can resume activities after large fire
It took about 17 hours for the fire to come under control but the haze of smoke remained, prompting an air quality advisory out of an abundance of caution.
Philadelphia health officials said residents in Frankford can return to their normal routines after a fire at a linen company on Christmas Eve prompted an air-quality advisory, encouraging residents to close their windows and avoid outdoor exercise.
The fire broke out late Tuesday evening about 9:30 p.m., according to the Philadelphia Fire Department, growing to a three-alarm fire. The department said about 120 firefighters, medics, chiefs, and support personnel were on site at the height of the blaze. It took about 17 hours for the fire to come under control, but the haze of smoke remained.
The city health department said Wednesday that it had not identified “specific hazardous substances” and that the recommendation to avoid unnecessary exposure to smoke was made out of an abundance of caution. Health officials urged sensitive groups, including pregnant people and those with respiratory conditions, to monitor for nausea or dizziness.
The department said it sent inspectors to the 1600 block of Foulkrod Street before the fire was under control. Inspectors took air samples that “showed that no toxic compounds were identified in quantities that would threaten human health,” according to the department.
Inspectors found the fire recorded no rise in particulate matter at any of the city’s monitors either.
“Additionally, no toxic compounds were identified at the site of the fire at levels that would pose a threat to human health,” said the department in a statement.