Black King Climbs 19-Story Building in Philadelphia To Rescue Mom From Fire

A man seen scaling a West Philadelphia apartment building during a fire spoke exclusively to Action News describing how he would stop at nothing to reach his mother trapped on the 15th floor.

Thirty-five-year-old Jermaine has experience scaling walls. He was a roofer, construction worker, and an all-around adventurous child.

"As kids we used to jump roofs," he said. "Glad I had the practice."

That practice came in handy Thursday night when the 19-story Westpark Apartments high-rise at 4445 Holden Street started filling with smoke.

Jermaine got a call from his sister that their mother, 65-year-old Sheila, who is bed-ridden, couldn't get out of her 15th floor apartment.

He rushed over to the scene. Jermaine first attempted the front door, but it was blocked by police.

 

"They said the elevators are not working. I said, 'No problem. I'll take the steps. I just want to make sure my mother- my mother is sick, she's bed-ridden. So I need to get up there," Jermaine said. "They were like 'we can't let you in.' I took it upon myself because that's my mother. There's no limits. That's my mother."

Earlier that day, Jermaine fell and cracked his hip on a set of stairs. His crutches sat next to him on the couch as he was being interviewed by Action News.

Despite his injuries, adrenaline took over. Jermaine started to scale the fenced-in balconies of the building, with wire cutters in hand. He was familiar with the layout of the complex because he had lived there in the past.

"When I grabbed a gate, at the top of the gate, there was a ledge. Then I could step on top of the ledge and reach up to the other gate, and keep climbing my way up," Jermaine said.

He did anything he could just to get to his mother.

 

Jermaine's mother made it out safely, as did many residents. Four civilians and three firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.

 

You can read the full and complete story by clicking here. 

Dear Mama, you are appreciated.