Historic Philadelphia Art Alliance Building Damaged in Two-Alarm Blaze

A two-alarm fire swept through the historic Art Alliance building on Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square in the early hours of 4 July, sending one firefighter to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Crews were dispatched at 3:19 a.m. after smoke was seen rising from the roof of the three-storey landmark, also known as the Wetherill Mansion at 251 South 18th Street. The Philadelphia Fire Department placed the incident in “all-hands” status at 3:54 a.m. and struck a second alarm at 4:22 a.m., ultimately deploying more than 120 firefighters, two additional engines and two ladder companies. The blaze was declared under control at 5:36 a.m. but investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office have not yet determined a cause, and the extent of structural and interior damage remains unclear. Built in 1906 and designated historic, the property houses a theatre and gallery. It was sold for $7.6 million in January after the bankrupt University of the Arts auctioned nine buildings; the Curtis Institute of Music won the bidding and was still deciding the site’s future use. Curtis officials said they are awaiting clearance to enter and assess the damage once the investigation concludes.