by Alex Lloyd Gross
A house fire resulted in a large fire department response to the 4900 block of Hawthorne Street earlier today. When crews got there, they saw a large plume of smoke coming from a row house. That smoke could be seen from New Jersey.
Firefighters said the house had thick black smoke pushing from the roof area and the rear of the dwelling. At least six cats were in the house at the time, and they were brought outside by police and firefighters. Police helped give oxygen to at least two cats.
As they were brought out, most of the cats were content to stay on the front porch. One or two were observed walking among neighboring porches, confused and looking for shelter. One cat scratched an officer who was trying to help it.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo /Delaware Valley News.com A police officer got scratched by the petrified feline on the porch.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The fire marshal was on scene along with animal control to help tend to and capture the animals. Streets around the 4900 block of Hawthorne Street were blocked by apparatus for about an hour.