No injuries in Sugarloaf fire

An electrical fire broke out this morning at a convention center under renovation on Chestnut Hill College's Sugarloaf campus, 9230 Germantown Ave.

The fire began at 4:39 a.m., when electrical wires shorted out inside a crawl space and quickly spread, according to Executive Fire Chief Daniel Williams.

No one was inside the building when the fire occurred. Firefighters safely contained it at 4:56 a.m.

It was not clear how much it would cost to repair the damage. This morning, 6 ABC reported this morning that flames were shooting out of both floors of the building when firefighters arrived, and that the conference center was "severely" damaged.

-JH

Bye Bye Borders

The Borders Book Store at 8701 Germantown Ave. will close on Jan. 16, 2010, according to Mary Davis, a company spokeswoman.


"Unfortunately, the Chestnut Hill store was not meeting our business objectives," Davis told the Local today in an e-mail. "We appreciate all the loyal customers who have shopped at the store over the years and we hope they will consider visiting our other locations nearby and Borders.com."


When asked if the store's employees would be relocated, Davis said Borders was "looking to place qualified individuals in other positions in the company when possible."


The Local reported on Oct. 15 that Acadia Realty Trust wanted to sell the Borders property and its 8400 Germantown Ave. property -- home to Jos. A. Bank and Talbots -- for $16 million.


The Borders site covers 18,538 square feet at the top of the Hill and has a 19-space parking lot. The 8400 Germantown Ave. property covers 20,000 square feet in front of an 80-spot parking lot.


It was not immediately clear if Jos. A. Bank and Talbots would be closing, nor was it clear what would replace Borders.


Check the Local next week for in-depth coverage.

Historic Garrett-Dunn House Gutted by Fire

The Garrett-Dunn House, a historic 19th century landmark at 7048 Germantown Ave., went up in flames yesterday. (More pictures of the house's charred remains are below.) The Philadelphia Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating the blaze. Check back for updates.

Henry on the Park management cited for fire-code violations

The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections has cited Fairfield Management LP for 13 fire-code violations at its Henry on the Park apartment complex, where a July 14 arson injured four people and displaced at least eight tenants.

The violations include failure to certify fire alarms, fire extinguishers and emergency electrical equipment on a yearly basis; poor fire-exit lighting; and inadequate signage for directing tenants to emergency escape routes.

Check the Local next week for the complete story.

Apartment arson suspect in custody

Northwest Detectives confirmed this afternoon that the woman who allegedly set fire to her apartment at Henry on the Park, 7901 Henry Ave. in Roxborough, is currently receiving psychiatric treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.

Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Lloyd Ayers told reporters on Tuesday that arson was the cause of the fire, but the suspect's identity has not been released because the case is still under investigation.

Arson charges are pending in the case.

The woman had been receiving care at Henry on the Park in an outpatient psychiatric treatment program called Project Transition.

Project Transition CEO Luke Crabtree told the Local today that he understood the outpouring of anger from residents and that he was "running to the issues, not away from it."

"We don't know what went on in that apartment, but it doesn't sound good," Crabtree said in a phone interview.

Crabtree said that he would meet next week with representatives from Fairfield Properties LP, the company that owns Henry on the Park, and officers of the newly formed Henry on the Park tenants association.

Project Transition is expected to release a statement to the media in the coming days to address community concerns, but he said he wanted to have the facts at hand in a police report first.

Fairfield's corporate communications department did not immediately return a call for comment.

More photos from Henry on the Park

The wall and ceiling outside the apartment where the fire occurred were charred. The stench of smoke still lingered in the hallway two days after the fire.


No fire hose was found in this case on the floor where the fire occurred. Fire hoses were missing from at least three other cases at Henry on the Park.


Fire also tore through the deck outside the apartment where the fire started.


The window frame outside the apartment was also charred by the blaze.

Henry on the Park fire photos

Above: Fourth-floor fire extinguisher in Building B, where the fire occurred, last inspected Dec. 2007.


Although the arson is under investigation, Building B was not secured.


Fire doors in Building B were found propped open. This fourth-floor door had been propped open with a water bottle.