Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Home in George Street Blaze Was Reportedly Vacant

Firefighters have been ordered to evacuate a home on the 600 block of George Street burning out of control.

UPDATE – 9:30 p.m.: According to The Times Herald, the home at 633 George St. that was destroyed in this evening's blaze was believed to be unoccupied at the time.

Several real estate website currently have the two-and-a-half story, single-family dwelling listed for sale.

The Herald reports that more than half a dozen area fire companies assisted the Norristown Fire Department with the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Find out what's happening in Norristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to The Herald, police are warning residents to be especially careful to watch for ice forming through the night and into the morning as a result of the thousands of gallons of water and freezing temperatures.

UPDATE – 9:15 p.m.: Firefighters have reportedly called for a bucket brigade to help with the still burning building. Firefighters and emergency responders are said to be dealing with extremely icy conditions due to extreme cold and water everywhere.

Find out what's happening in Norristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

UPDATE – 9:10 p.m: Officials have ordered everyone to get behind the collapse zone. Firefighters are reportedly going to try using the ladder pipe – a water cannon attached to a telescoping ladder.

Firefighters are reconfiguring equipment to be more optimally positioned for the current situation.

UPDATE – 8:45 p.m.: BNN reporting the interior reporting roof is in danger of collapsing. A collapse zone is being established and all crews have been ordered off the ladders.

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According to MontcoAlerts and the Breaking News Network (BNN), the Norristown Fire Department is battling a house fire raging out of control on the 600 block of George Street near Blackberry Alley.

According to the Department of Public Safety's Live Incident Feed, the call came in at 7:41 p.m. for a building fire at George Street and Blackberry Alley. Flames could reportedly be seen pouring from the first and second floors of the single family dwelling.

Shortly before 8 p.m., BNN reported that officials had ordered the evacuation tones sounded and all firefighters were to pull out and go to defensive operations. Officials in charge at the scene have reportedly confirmed that the 2 1/2 story single family home has heavy fire throughout and have ordered exterior operations only.

As of 8:30 p.m., all visible fire had been knocked down but the fire has extended to the attic area and firefighters are still working on the blaze.

Norristown Patch reader Kimberly Spearman on the scene has supplied live video footage of the blaze.

Norristown Patch will have more information as it becomes available.


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