Fire in W. Kensington warehouse is ruled arson

A fire that destroyed a large abandoned warehouse and seven nearby homes in the West Kensington section last week was set, Philadelphia Fire Department officials said yesterday.

Officials said the seven-alarm blaze at the four-story brick warehouse at 3222-58 H St., which started about 4 a.m. Wednesday, was labeled incendiary. The inferno drew 175 firefighters and 50 pieces of fire equipment, caused power and gas outages, and forced scores of people in the area to temporarily evacuate.- Vernon Clark