ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Thirty-six people were displaced and finding a new place to sleep Wednesday night after multiple row homes went up in flames in Allentown.
That fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in the 700 block of N 7th Street.
One woman and one firefighter were taken to the hospital. The firefighter was treated and released, officials said Wednesday. The woman was not considered to have serious injuries, according to a news report by WFMZ News.
Photo courtesy Mike Nester
City code officials are trying to find out exactly how that fire happened.
Allentown code official Joseph Franzone told WFMZ News, "We want to make sure the brick is stable, that the structure is stable enough to even walk in, but again we've got to be careful. We don't even know what it looks like on the inside."
The Red Cross set up a shelter at the Allentown YMCA where five people stayed Tuesday night, according to WFMZ news. The Red Cross is anticipating several families to start cycling in today, according to Red Cross Rivers Chapter Executive Director Peter Brown.
“We're looking to make sure the families have food, shelter, immediate need for clothes, replacement medication, stuff that we're gonna do pretty quickly,” said Peter Brown, with the American Red Cross.
Building code official, Joseph Franzone, told WFMZ News, "We're looking to assess the property, to see if it needs to be demoed or it can be salvaged.”
The city wants to make sure the buildings are secure for themselves, the residents, and anyone walking past the property.