Grand Jury investigation underway in fatal Kensington fire
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office announced today a grand jury investigation is underway for the Kensington factory fire that resulted in the death of two Philadelphia firefighters.
“The investigation into the April 9, 2012 fatal fire at the Thomas W. Buck Hosiery building in the Kensington section of the city is being submitted to the Philadelphia County Investigating Grand Jury,” a statement from D.A. Seth Williams’ office reads.
“Philadelphia Fire Lt. Robert Neary and firefighter Daniel Sweeney were both killed while fighting the blaze. This will be the only public statement on this case now that a Grand Jury Investigation is underway, legally the District Attorney’s Office can not comment any further.”
Neary and Sweeney died during a collapse in the building where they were trying to extinguish a multi-alarm blaze. Subsequent reports indicate the owners of the building had received multiple citations from the city’s Department of Licenses & Inspections before the fire took place.
On Radio Times this morning, reporter Patrick Kerkstra, Philadelphia Managing Director Rich Negrin and community activist Chris Sawyer talked about the city’s vacant and neglected properties.
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