A Philadelphia family is reeling from unimaginable tragedy after a fire — which investigators say was intentionally set — tore through a Strawberry Mansion home early Friday morning.
The fire claimed the lives of a pregnant mother, two of her young children, and her unborn baby.
According to FOX 29, flames engulfed the two-story row-home just after sunrise. Firefighters rushed to the scene and battled heavy smoke and flames to rescue those trapped inside.
Alayah and Asad, both under the age of 6, were pulled from a second-floor bedroom and transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Their mother, Ashley Thompson, a woman in her 20s who was seven months pregnant, was later found dead during a second search of the home.
You Took Four Innocent Lives
A woman named Chyna, who also lived in the house, returned to find her home reduced to ruins and her family gone. Grieving at the scene, she gave an emotional statement about the loss of her loved ones:
“You all took my family. You all took four innocent lives, including that baby she had in her stomach that was very healthy, and she was about to have. That’s a tragedy — I couldn’t even imagine in my mind who would want to hurt three babies and a pregnant girl.”
Grandmother Saved Toddler by Jumping from Window
Amid the horror, a moment of heroism stood out. A neighbor reported seeing the children’s grandmother jump from a second-story window with a 2-year-old in her arms. Both survived the fall and are expected to recover.
The Philadelphia Fire Department, along with police and arson investigators, are treating the fire as an act of arson. Officials have not confirmed any suspects, but they have declared the fire to be intentionally set. The investigation remains ongoing.
No motive has been released, but authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s Arson Task Force. Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward for tips leading to an arrest.
A City in Mourning
The senseless loss has shocked residents of Strawberry Mansion, a historically Black neighborhood already grappling with disinvestment and trauma.
Makeshift memorials have begun to appear on the sidewalk — candles, teddy bears, and balloons left in memory of the children and their mother.
Community activists and neighbors are demanding justice and support for the surviving family members.
A GoFundMe page described Thompson as “a loving mother, daughter, and friend.”
