Cause given for fire at Jim’s Steaks on Philly’s South Street – NBC10 Philadelphia
The Jim’s Steaks fire that rocked Philadelphia far beyond South Street last week was caused by electrical wiring.
The Office of the Fire Marshal determined on Monday the cause of the fire that caused smoke and flames from the popular Philadelphia cheesesteak on 4th and South streets on Friday, the Philadelphia Fire Department said.
The fire department did not disclose the exact problem with the wiring or make any further statements about the blaze Monday.
Firefighters responded after someone reported some wires catching fire around 9:15 a.m. Friday, Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Adam Thiel said. Smoke could be seen billowing from every floor of the four-story building as firefighters knocked down windows.
The fire burned for several hours before being brought under control as flames raced through the heating and cooling system.
The floors above the cheesesteak store were empty and are being used for storage, Thiel noted. A restaurant manager told NBC10 that everyone was able to get by after seeing smoke coming from the air conditioning system.
Firefighters had to proceed with caution due to the risk of the building being structurally unstable, Thiel said, referring to an incident in which a firefighter died earlier this year after a building collapsed following a fire. another fire.
The owner of the cheesesteak shop has already promised to rebuild the iconic restaurant for locals and tourists.
Jim’s Steaks owner Kenneth Silver told NBC10 on Saturday that the city’s licensing and inspections department does not believe the South Street building is a total loss and that its structural integrity can be maintained.
Jim’s Steaks opened in 1939 in West Philadelphia, but the South Street location opened in 1976. The South Street building was originally built around 1900, according to property records for the city.
“We’ll definitely be back for 48 so give us a break,” said Silver standing outside the barricaded restaurant. “Visit the other great establishments in Philadelphia. There are so many of us. We’re one big family and we’re one big cheesesteak community.”
