Crews responded out to the 5100 block of Warren Street in the city's Parkside section just before 6:00 a.m. after a passing police officer noticed flames coming from the Global Leadership Academy Charter School. The school serves as many as 500 students grades K through 8.
5-alarm fire at Philadelphia school
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The first arriving firefighters found flames shooting from the basement and quickly went to work battling the fire. A second and third alarm were quickly struck. A fourth alarm was called at 6:36 a.m. and as of 7:45 a.m., the response had been upgraded to 5 alarms.
Firefighters have set up a collapse zone in the rear of the fire in anticipation of walls starting to fall.
So far, there are no reported injuries and no word on what sparked the blaze.
Police have rerouted all traffic including SEPTA bus and trolley routes off of Lancaster Avenue in the area of the fire.
