PHILADELPHIA – City officials provided the following update on continuing operations in the aftermath of the four-alarm fire that originated at 239 Chestnut Street on Sunday, February 25, 2018.
The Department of Licenses and Inspections determined soon after the fire was extinguished that 239 Chestnut would need to be demolished. (The cast iron first floor façade of 239 will be salvaged.) The fire structurally undermined 237 Chestnut in such a way that contractors must stabilize it before 239 Chestnut can be taken down safely.
Because the damage to the party wall between the buildings and to 237 Chestnut itself is surprisingly extensive, the stabilization process has been far more complex and time consuming than expected. Contractors and officials now believe that demolition of 239 Chestnut will be delayed for at least another two weeks.
L&I inspectors are on site daily to monitor progress and safety conditions. L&I halted work at the site today due to a National Weather Center warning of heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds. Work is expected to resume tomorrow.
L&I is also continuing to follow up on nearby buildings to check whether they have been made safe for the residents’ return. L&I has now cleared most of the residential units at 24-30 Bank Street for reoccupancy. Residents are advised to contact property managers to arrange for reoccupancy of the cleared units and for retrieval of valuables from those units that have not been reopened.
Capofitto, a pizzeria and gelateria at 233 Chestnut Street, is closed today but otherwise open for business. Several other businesses in the area affected by the fire have also reopened. Others, including The Little Lion Restaurant, located next to the fire building at the corner of 3rd and Chestnut, remain closed. Businesses impacted by the fire can contact the Department of Commerce at business@phila.gov for more information or contact Carol Brooks, Business Development Manager at (215) 683-2127.
“We are keenly aware of the collateral damage that major fires cause,” said L&I Commissioner David Perri. “We ask for your patience during the fire investigation and while we make the scene safe again. Our goal is to restore the area to its pre-fire vibrancy as quickly as possible.”
Chestnut between S Bank and S 4th Streets; Elbow Lane between S Bank and S 3rd Streets; S Bank between Elbow Lane and Chestnut Street; and S 3rd St between Elbow Lane and Walnut Street remain closed to traffic. Additional temporary road closures may become necessary to protect public safety.
“Residents and businesses who have been affected by this fire are thought of daily and we are grateful for their understanding,” stated Dan Bradley, Director of Emergency Management. “The area remains an emergency scene where life safety is our primary concern. Once the scene is considered safe, the city will look to create safe passage ways for pedestrian and vehicular travel.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by ATF and the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office.