PHOTOS: An early-morning fire ripped through three homes under construction at the former Our Lady of Grace orphanage property on East Chestnut Hill Road on Sunday.
Firefighters were dispatched around 3:15 a.m. to the unit block of Tree of Heaven Way, located near the back of the new Chestnut Hill Preserve neighborhood, and found three homes engulfed in flames. One side of a duplex burned to the ground, while the other side sustained heavy fire damage. The fire also spread to a home next door.
The three residences were all under construction and were not occupied, according to A.J. Schall, a deputy chief with Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company.
The heat from the fire also melted the siding on homes across the street, at least one of which is occupied.
Dozens of firefighters from nine area fire companies battled the blaze. The fire was brought under control within an hour, but firefighters remained on scene until 8 a.m. doing overhaul and checking for hot spots.
No injuries were reported.