Authorities say the intentionally set blaze killed a 69-year-old man, damaged six connected homes and forced seven families from the block.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A 38-year-old woman has been charged with murder and arson after authorities said she intentionally started a North Philadelphia rowhouse fire that killed a man, spread through five neighboring homes and displaced about two dozen residents.

Natasha Teague was arrested June 23, one day after the fire on the 3600 block of North Percy Street, according to police and local news reports. Barry Turner, 69, was found unresponsive inside the house where officials said the fire began. In addition to murder and arson, Teague faces 12 counts of causing or risking a catastrophe and 12 counts of recklessly endangering another person. The accusations are allegations, and the available reports do not show that the charges have been resolved.

The number and range of charges reflect the scale of the emergency described by investigators. The case involves not only Turner’s death but also the danger faced by people in adjoining properties as flames traveled through a tightly connected row of homes. Fire officials said the blaze began in one two-story residence and reached five others before crews brought it under control. Authorities have not publicly released a full charging affidavit detailing the evidence supporting each individual count.

Firefighters were sent to Percy Street shortly before 1 p.m. June 22 following a report of a house fire with someone trapped inside. Crews arrived to find flames on the first floor of a rowhouse and fire spreading into nearby buildings, according to accounts attributed to the Philadelphia Fire Department. Video from the area showed heavy smoke and flames breaking through parts of the connected structures as firefighters worked from the street and around the affected homes.

The response quickly became a rescue operation involving several properties. Residents in the adjoining houses faced the risk of becoming trapped as conditions worsened. A police official told KYW Newsradio that firefighters were able to remove or account for people in the neighboring homes. Turner was the only person who did not survive. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 2 p.m., roughly an hour after emergency crews were first dispatched.

The Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office later classified the fire as arson, meaning investigators concluded that it had been intentionally set. Police then identified Teague as the person they believed was responsible and announced the charges June 24. Officials have not publicly described all of the forensic findings that led to the arson determination, nor have they released a complete reconstruction showing where and how the fire was first ignited.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore told KYW Newsradio that investigators believed the episode followed an argument involving Teague and her continued presence at the residence. Vanore said Teague had been living there and that the dispute appeared to involve her being expected to leave. He also said investigators believed she had tried to start another fire earlier that morning before the larger blaze began around 1 p.m. Those claims remain part of the prosecution’s account and have not been tested at trial.

Neighbors provided a separate account of disturbances on the block before the fatal fire. Jeff Melvin told WPVI that residents heard loud banging on doors during an earlier episode and that police had been called. Melvin said he had not personally seen what happened during that morning disturbance. His statement about a possible incendiary device was presented as something he had heard from others, not as a firsthand observation confirmed by investigators.

When the afternoon fire erupted, Melvin said he heard Turner calling for help and joined an effort to reach him. He told the television station that people kicked in a door but were driven back by the rapidly advancing flames. His account describes the speed with which conditions became dangerous, but authorities have not released a detailed timeline showing Turner’s location inside the home or the precise sequence of attempted rescues.

The fire left damage beyond the house where Turner was found. The American Red Cross said it was assisting seven families, with published estimates ranging from 25 to about 27 displaced people. Those figures may reflect when the counts were made or how agencies classified the residents receiving help. Local reports said six houses were affected. Officials have not released a public estimate of the total property loss or said how many of the buildings can be repaired.

One displaced resident, Stanley Harrison, told WPVI that he tried to save his dog, King, before the animal ran back into the burning house. Firefighters later brought the dog to safety. That rescue offered one measure of relief on a block where families were suddenly left without homes and Turner’s neighbors were confronting his death. Residents described him in local coverage as a good neighbor, though his relatives had not issued a detailed public statement in the reports reviewed.

Several neighbors also told WPVI that there had been previous problems involving Teague and repeated calls for police service. Talbert Lawton said residents believed earlier intervention could have prevented the outcome. Those statements reflect the neighbors’ perceptions and frustration after the fire. Authorities have not released a complete history of calls to the block, explained how officers handled any earlier contacts or confirmed that previous incidents predicted the fatal blaze.

Teague was held on $300,000 bail and a July 14 court date was listed. Because that date has passed, those initial scheduling details should not be treated as a current account of the case. No later court outcome was established in the public reports reviewed for this article. Teague’s attorney, plea status and next confirmed proceeding were also not identified. The investigation was described as continuing, and the charges remain allegations unless proved in court.

Author note: Last updated July 22, 2026.