Amazing ground pictures of ice-encased West Philly building destroyed by fire this AM. (via photog Gary Watson) pic.twitter.com/yFCbXAnPAh
— Vince Lattanzio (@VinceLattanzio) February 16, 2015
A west Philadelphia medical center — which was encased in a thick layer of ice after firefighters doused it to extinguish a blaze — is in danger of collapsing under the extra weight, officials said Wednesday.
Fire and ice collided Monday morning when firefighters battled a fire at the Locust Medical Center at 52nd and Locust streets. A combination of fierce winds and bone-chilling temperatures caused the water to freeze around the building.
“The ice that’s put on this property adds a lot of weight and we establish collapse zones and we just have to stay out of its way,” Philadelphia Fire Department Deputy Chief James Bonner told NBC Philadelphia.
“We have to keep it contained to the building it’s in and make sure the building doesn’t fall on us.”
Wild! This is what happens when firefighters have to battle a blaze in 3 degree weather: http://t.co/izH8SXVSxAhttps://t.co/BjDAMw4QGa
— Vince Lattanzio (@VinceLattanzio) February 16, 2015
No one was hurt in the fire, but the unprecedented deep freeze caused the entire three-story building — along with several adjacent properties, sidewalks, cars and trees — to become completely encased in ice.
“It’s just weird to see it like that because now it just looks like an ice sculpture,” Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety, told CBS, adding that the demolition could start on Wednesday.
“Obviously it’s going to be even more tricky because of the ice conditions inside,” he said. “But this would normally call for a combination of people going in, taking it down, making it safe, and bringing in some equipment.”
The owner of the medical center has been cooperating with officials and has hired a demolition company to tear down the building, Gillison said.
Call it the "ice castle" or "ice palace" – this has become a must see. Talked to guy from S Phila who had to see it. pic.twitter.com/l08Pr75Tp3
— George Spencer (@georgehspencer) February 17, 2015
