Heavy winds, bitter cold complicate early-morning fire at nightclub in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Philadelphia restaurant and nightclub burned down in an early morning fire amid frigid temperatures early Friday morning.

Heavy winds and bitterly cold temperatures complicated firefighting efforts as a fire tore through Bella Vista Restaurant and Nightclub in Juniata Park, drawing a large emergency response.

The fire broke out around 3:45 a.m., with towering flames prompting nearly 100 firefighters to respond to the scene near Whitaker and Hunting Park, officials said.

Philadelphia Fire Department Executive Chief Daniel McCarty said freezing conditions created additional hazards for crews battling the blaze.

“Obviously, with the freezing conditions, the water creates a hazard for our responders,” McCarty said.

A raging fire destroyed the Bella Vista Restaurant and Nightclub in Philadelphia’s Juniata Park section.

Despite the difficult conditions, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics worked to contain what officials described as a major fire.

“This is quite the job for the Philadelphia firefighters and the EMTS and paramedics that show up here in freezing cold conditions to put out a massive fire,” McCarty said.

Crews said the fire started in the back of the building and that no one was inside at the time. The nightclub’s social media indicates it stays open late, until about 2:30 a.m. The fire began about an hour later.

Fenil Amin, who owns the Exxon gas station next door, said the nightclub had recently reopened after extensive work.

“They just rebuilt it, and I think it was open five, six months ago,” Amin said.

Amin said the nightclub had been undergoing renovations for years. As the fire burned and high winds whipped through the area, he said his primary concern was safety and the risk of the flames spreading to nearby properties, including his own business.

“I just want to make sure everybody is safe. That was a priority, and I hope and pray that they contain the fire, and it doesn’t spread toward the gas station,” Amin said.

The Philadelphia fire marshal is investigating the cause.

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