Fire erupts during Memorial Day banquet at American Legion
By Associated Press
| 4:49 p.m.May 30, 2016
Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
The Associated Press
Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDITThe Associated Press
+Read Caption
Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDITThe Associated Press
+Read Caption
Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
James Murphy, center, gives a back pat to John Clark, 75, as they talk with Kime Powell as Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDITThe Associated Press
+Read Caption
James Murphy, center, gives a back pat to John Clark, 75, as they talk with Kime Powell as Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
People watch as Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDITThe Associated Press
+Read Caption
People watch as Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
John Clark, 75, left, talks with James Murphy, center, and Kime Powell as Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDITThe Associated Press
+Read Caption
John Clark, 75, left, talks with James Murphy, center, and Kime Powell as Philadelphia firefighters work to put out a fire at the American Legion Post 396, Monday May 30, 2016, in Philadelphia. There were no reports of injuries. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities say a blaze erupted during an annual Memorial Day banquet at an American Legion post in Philadelphia and required more than 100 firefighters to get it under control.
Banquet attendee George Mondschein tells The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1THBb59 ) that dinner was finishing up Monday when the commander announced that there was a fire in the dumbwaiter.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel says firefighters worked 2½ hours to get the blaze under control. He says the cause is under investigation.
Mondschein says his old Boy Scout troop held its meetings at the post. He says it kept him off the streets, but "now it's burned up."
He says he wishes he and the other attendees had grabbed mementos from the building on their way out.
