Philly mayor urging calm after deadly weekend fire spurs protests

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says there is no reason to believe the fire department mishandled a weekend blaze that killed four children.

Mayor Nutter says department crews got to the fire in southwest Philadelphia as soon as possible. Nutter says much of the outrage is based in misinformation.

“The men and women at Engine 40-Ladder 4 absolutely positively did everything they could under the circumstances, upon either getting information seeing the fire themselves or receiving other information,” Nutter said.

Residents have questioned whether enough trucks were sent to the scene right away.

Nutter says the investigation into the fire and response is continuing and the cause of origin is still being reviewed.

“What I’m asking for at this point and time is that we all calm down to the extent that we can, remind ourselves of what is really at issue here families have been devastated by the loss of life or in other instances the complete loss of property,” he said. 

The mayor says protesters blocking the doors to fire houses or police stations will not help and could put other lives in jeopardy.