Investigators may never know what sparked a three-alarm inferno that killed a woman and gutted part of a city block in Reading.
Four buildings were left ravaged by the fierce flames, and a woman and her two beloved dogs were found dead inside one of the burning buildings.
"She was a beautiful person. She walked her dogs all the time, her little chihuahuas," said Gloria Waller, a good friend of the victim. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe it!"
Firefighters were dispatched at 9:19 p.m. Wednesday to 714 Chestnut St.
The first crews on the scene arrived to find flames shooting from all three floors of the row home, in both the front and the rear.
"When we came across the street, we turned to look back and all you saw was flames," said AJ Wilson, who was displaced from neighboring 716 Chestnut.
Officials, seeing the need for additional manpower as the fire spread to two neighboring homes, subsequently struck two additional alarms.
Firefighters mounted a defensive attack on the fire until they were able to bring the flames under control and get inside the building, according to Chief William Stout.
Investigators spent much of Thursday sifting through the rubble. The woman's body was not removed until 1 p.m.
"Structurally, the integrity of the building is very compromised due to the fire damage, so that's been a challenge for us with victim removal because of where she was positioned," said Larry Moyer, Reading's fire marshal.
Moyer said the fire started on the second floor of the victim's home. He ruled it undetermined because the damage was too extensive to pinpoint an exact cause.
As crews worked to shore up the building, residents forced from their homes tried to salvage anything they could.
"I came back for my mom's urn and whatever we could salvage clothing-wise," said Wilson.
"I was out in the back and the second floor of that building is completely gutted," said Don Schafer, who managed 716 Chestnut.
The owner of 716, Nick Blanck, said it looked like a disaster inside. Now, he's trying to find a warm place for his tenants to stay.
"It's the worst news I've heard last year and this year put together," said Blanck. "It's a complete shame the deceased lady passed in the fire."
An autopsy is set for Friday morning, and dental records are needed to confirm her identification said officials.
This is Reading's first fatal fire in 2015, but it's the second in recent weeks.
An elderly couple were killed in a fire at 524 Spruce St. on Dec. 28. Investigators determined that diapers around a radiator sparked the blaze.
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