PHILADELPHIA (January 5, 2022) – District Attorney Larry Krasner issued the following statement on a house fire this morning that killed at least 13 people, including seven children: “I join Philadelphians in expressing my heartbreak over the tragic loss of life in Fairmount today. The deaths of 13 people, including 7 children, in a house fire are an unfathomable occurrence. The City owes it to the victims, the survivors, and to all Philadelphians to conduct a thorough investigation into this travesty, so that we can make sure it never happens again. “My thoughts are also with our Philadelphia Fire Department and first responders, who acted bravely to save lives and are likely forever affected by today’s tragic events. As with all fires that result in serious injury and loss of life in Philadelphia, the District Attorney’s Office is prepared to work with our partner agencies in the event that any criminal act is involved. To be clear, we are not involved at this time, as this investigation is in very preliminary stages. “Housing stability and housing health are public safety issues with which law enforcement is all too familiar. A lack of safe, healthy, and stable housing is something that too many victims of crime have experienced, and that too many people who engage in criminal acts have in common. My office will continue to work with our partners in government to advocate for access to affordable, stable, and safe housing for all Philadelphians because it makes our communities safer.”
CONTACT:Jane Roh, 215-686-8711, [email protected]
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually.