Philadelphian Charged in Fires That Killed 8

A man on Thursday was charged with murder and arson in fires in two apartment buildings that killed eight people who were trying to escape.

At least 14 others were injured, one critically.

Some residents broke windows and climbed out of their apartments to escape, and others were rescued by firefighters. Residents were taken to a nearby school cafeteria.

Frank A. Jordan, 20, who periodically lived with his mother in a third, undamaged building at the apartment complex, was accused of using a cigarette lighter to ignite material in storage lockers in the basements of the two buildings in northeast Philadelphia, Roger Ulshafer, deputy chief fire marshal, said.

Two hours earlier, police officers reportedly had spotted Jordan four blocks away, near the scene of a small house fire, Chief Inspector Frank Scafidi of the homicide division said.

Jordan was arrested at Nazareth Hospital, where he had gone complaining of back injuries suffered when helping residents to escape the fires, Scafidi said.

Those who died were between the ages of 40 and 60 and “were up and they were mobile and trying to get out,” Ulshafer said.

Fire Commissioner William Richmond said the fires moved quickly from the basement, “creating a lot of smoke and felling a lot of people.” Heat caused an explosion in one building, he said.

Residents said a small fire had broken out at the complex two weeks ago, and threats were later painted on a washing machine in a utility room.

The word “death” was painted on the lid of one machine and “You are dead” was written on its side, one resident said.

Police did not say if they suspected Jordan of writing the words.

Margaret Kinsley, 69, said she and her husband, August, were awakened by a neighbor’s shouts.

“We were trapped in there and didn’t know how to get out,” she said. “The smoke was so thick, even the flashlight couldn’t cut through it . . . . The firemen got us out. They came in through a window and took us down a ladder.”