Man Arrested for Deadly Philadelphia Fire

Aug. 24, 2024
Firefighters found multiple houses in the Kensington neighborhood on fire.

A Philadelphia woman is dead, dozens are homeless and a man is charged with setting a blaze that spread to multiple houses.

Firefighters foand Evelyn Payne, 66, unresponsive in a second-floor bedroom in one of the homes.

"Multiple things are going on at the same time...we're in each one of the dwellings trying to put the fire out in addition to making saves off the second-floor roof," Assistant Deputy Commissioner Derek Bowmer told CBS.

Five residents were taken to the hospital with burns and minor injuries.

Shadeek McDowell, 38, was arrested aftera camera caught a man stepping the front porch of one of the homes.

McDowell has been charged with murder, arson, aggravated assault, simple assault and other related offenses, according to police. 

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.