Our neighborhood continues to be affected by the tragedy on 8th Street this past December. Everyone is very grateful for the outpouring of support from all over the city. Neighbors in need who would like to be connected to support and resources can email us at 8thstreetfire@passyunk.org.

Trauma support is available for free via the Red Cross and City’s Department of Behavioral Health.

As always, if you smell gas anytime, anywhere in the neighborhood, the fire department and PGW advise neighbors to leave the area and immediately call 911 and/or PGW at 215-235-1212

We will continue to post any information we receive from the city here and on social media. Below is a running list of updates we have received.

UPDATES FROM THE CITY (as of 2/18/2020):

• 2/18/2020 – Work Update from the City
  
• 2/13/2020 – Update from the City
  
• 2/5/2020 – Update from PGW: 1400 S. 8th Street – Construction Work to Begin 2/17/2020
  
• 2/2/2020 Work Update from the City
  
• Notice of Special Meeting organized by the Managing Director’s Office
  Inquirer Coverage of this event
  
• 1/18/2020 Update from PWD
  
• 1/16/2020 – Statement immediately following a City Press Conference on this incident
  Press Conference Video
  Inquirer Press Conference Coverage

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On December 19, the 1400 block of S. 8th Street was the site of a horrible fire that ended in tragedy for several families of the block. We are still working to determine the best ways to directly assist these families, but we know in the coming days they will need the support of their neighbors.

First responders including the Philadelphia Fire Department, The Philadelphia Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management, The Red Cross, and Red Paw all were on the scene immediately and offered amazing and heroic assistance and we want to be sure they are supported as well.

GETTING INFORMATION

Neighbors in need of support can call 1-800-RED-CROSS, reach out to the Office of Emergency Management at OEM@phila.gov or contact Councilmember Squilla’s office (215-686-3458) or Representative Fiedler’s office (215 271-9190)

The Philadelphia Fire Department (Twitter) and the Philadephia Office of Emergency Management (Facebook, Twitter) both have active social media presence. We encourage neighbors to follow these feeds.

HOW TO HELP

We encourage neighbors to above all remember this is still an active situation and to avoid the area from 7th to 9th Federal to Tasker where possible.

DIRECT GIVING

• Support for a mother and her son who lost everything in the fire https://www.gofundme.com/f/south-philly-fire-victims?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet

• Palumbo Home and School Association has set up a fund drive for a student who lost a family member in the fire. Details are here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-palumbo-family-devastated-by-fire

• Support for one the families who lost their home: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jon-and-pete-get-back-on-their-feet

• We were very sad to learn that the man listed missing yesterday was discovered to have lost his life in the fire. His family has set up a fundraiser here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/564840237672287/564841857672125/

Now that there are several direct funding opportunities, we are taking down our general fund on this page. There are still opportunities to support generally though being organized by area businesses like Termini’s holiday line Christmas Eve Day. We encourage you to check back and we will list these efforts too.

We will be distributing general resources to those affected and non-profit first responding agencies over the next few weeks and updating this page with any new direct funding opportunities.

We encourage you to consider direct support for our first responders as well Philadelphia Fire/OEM, the Second Alarmers, Red Cross and Red Paw)

IN-KIND

We are at capacity on coats, clothing and toiletries at our drop off locations. We’ll update neighbors with any specific needs as we hear them.

It has been an amazing response from the neighborhood and we are so gratified to know we are surrounded by wonderful, generous people. Thank you to all.

Neighbors who would like to offer specific donations, other services or places to stay can email us at 8thStreetFire@passyunk.org and we will work to pass these on.

OTHER UPDATES, COVERAGE AND EFFORTS

• The Philadelphia Inquirer is also keeping a running list of ways to help here: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/south-philly-fire-how-to-help-donations-20191220.html .

• Billy Penn also has a summary here: https://billypenn.com/2019/12/20/south-philly-restaurants-offer-free-meals-to-families-displaced-by-rowhome-fire/

• Area businesses interested in donating items or services are welcome to share information through their own communications directly or can contact adam@visiteastpassyunk.com. He is compiling a list to pass on to OEM.

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