Pennsylvania

Christmas Eve fire damages multiple homes in Chester, Delaware County

Published

3 months ago

December 25, 2025

Christmas Eve fire damages multiple homes in Chester, Delaware County

CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) — A fire that tore through four rowhomes in Chester on Christmas Eve displaced eight people and killed one cat, officials said.

The fire broke out minutes before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 900 block of West 7th Street, sending flames and smoke billowing into the sky.

Firefighters arriving on scene encountered heavy fire conditions and quickly called for additional help.

No injuries were reported.

“They instantly struck a second alarm which brought the recall of off-duty personnel as well as fire departments from surrounding municipalities,” said Chester Fire Commissioner John-Paul Shirley.

Flames spread from a corner home to three neighboring rowhouses, traveling through the attic space, Shirley said.

“The fire wound up extending into three other row homes through the cockwall space in the attic, it was just a lot of fire and crews had their hands full,” he said.

Shirley said there were no reports of anyone missing and that all residents were accounted for.

Eight people were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

“It’s horrible to happen anytime but it’s especially horrible you know on the holidays, tomorrow’s Christmas, there might be Christmas presents in the houses that now families aren’t gonna be able to get but we’ll do everything we can to help them out. The most important thing though is that everyone’s OK,” Shirley said.

Neighbors watched the scene unfold as firefighters battled the blaze, which burned through the roofs of at least two homes and caused partial roof collapses, according to Shirley.

Crews remained on scene extinguishing hot spots before going inside to determine whether the buildings are structurally sound.

James Reed, who lives nearby, said he saw the fire rapidly intensify.

“I heard the fire engines coming by, I look out the window I seen that they had a line, look down here and seen smoke and I went in the house put a coat on and by the time I came out it burst into flames. I believe it was like a common roof and just everything went berserk,” Reed said.

Reflecting on other recent tragedies, Reed said the timing made the fire especially difficult to witness.

“It’s terrible I mean, so much has happened this week… State Police getting shot down in Delaware, the thing up in Bristol, it’s always around Christmas Eve… Something always happens. Just have faith in God,” he said.

The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.

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Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA DEP TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON HOMER CITY GAS LINE PROJECT

Published

5 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

PENNSYLVANIA DEP TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON HOMER CITY GAS LINE PROJECT

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has announced a public hearing on a proposed natural gas pipeline project connected with the Homer City Redevelopment site.

The hearing will focus on the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that is part of the Homer City Pipeline project. The plan is to install close to six miles of 30-inch diameter natural gas pipeline from an interconnect facility in Burrell Township to the proposed Homer City Redevelopment site in Center township. The line will run through parts of Burrell, Blacklick and Center Townships.

The hearing will be held May 12^th at 5:00 PM at the Indiana Theater.

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Pennsylvania

Brooklyn baby shooting: Second suspect in killing of 7-month-old girl caught after fleeing to Pennsylvania, sources say | amNewYork

Published

17 hours ago

April 3, 2026

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Brooklyn baby shooting: Second suspect in killing of 7-month-old girl caught after fleeing to Pennsylvania, sources say | amNewYork

Police apprehended on Friday a second suspect tied to the horrific, deadly shooting of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore on Wednesday afternoon, amNewYork has learned.

NYPD

Police apprehended on Friday a second suspect tied to the horrific, deadly shooting of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon, amNewYork has learned.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the perpetrator was cuffed on Friday afternoon after fleeing to Pennsylvania. Sources identified him as 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez; he is currently being held in the Keystone State, pending extradition back to New York for prosecution on charges yet to be announced.

The arrest came 48 hours after Patterson-Moore was shot while being wheeled in her stroller by her mother near the corner of Humboldt and Moore Streets in East Williamsburg at about 1:20 p.m. on April 1.

The getaway scooter used in the shooting.Photo by Dean Moses

Law enforcement sources said two suspects on a moped rode up to the location and fired the fatal shot before fleeing the scene. Sources said Rodriguez is believed to be the moped’s operator; the alleged shooter, 21-year-old Amuri Greene, was officially charged on Friday with multiple counts of murder.

Patterson-Moore sustained a fatal gunshot wound to her head. Frantic efforts by her parents and bystanders were to no avail; the infant died later on Wednesday afternoon at Woodhull Hospital.

The shooting horrified local residents and the city. Linda Oyinkonyan, the grandmother on Kaori’s mother’s side, said she has been left devastated.

“Heartbroken, horrified. It’s bad, it’s sad, it’s sorrowful, it’s hurtful, it’s nothing you can imagine, nothing, the hurt, the deep hurt,” she said.

photos of Brooklyn baby killed in shooting — Kaori Patterson-Moore, just 7 months old, was shot and killed by a stray bullet fired in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on April 1, 2026.Obtained by amNewYork

Police said Greene and Rodriguez allegedly crashed their ride two blocks away from the shooting scene. Though Rodriguez was able to avoid capture, Greene was hospitalized with injuries after being thrown from the vehicle. He was subsequently charged at his bedside.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on Wednesday evening an extensive manhunt for the second suspect in the killing. That search ultimately led cops to Pennsylvania, and to Rodriguez on Friday.

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