ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A rowhouse fire in the 700 block of Cedar Street made it up to a third alarm Thursday night, as it spread to at least four neighboring homes, according to Channel 69 News.
According to WFMZ, about 30 people were forced from their homes.
Thankfully everyone made it out of the buildings alive according to Capt. Mike Pychinka with the Allentown Fire Department.
Four firefighters were sent to the hospital with minor injuries, according to WFMZ.
Officials say that means all city firefighters, as well as two engines from neighboring townships, were called in.
Courtesy Lehigh Valley Fire Scene Photos
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk told WFMZ, "Fires like this are hard to knock down" "It takes a while to get them fully under control." He also told WFMZ that he could see the flames from inside his office on Hamilton Street.
Tuerk told WFMZ he first received notice of the fire at 4:40 Thursday afternoon, around the time crews responded to the scene.
Video courtesy Lehigh Valley Fire Scene Photos
"This is a tight, densely packed neighborhood," he said. "And the fire spread to a couple adjacent units, and smoke spread to other units."
Tuerk arrived at the scene to assist in any way possible. He mentioned that since numerous neighbors and residents spoke only Spanish, he was able to provide translation assistance.
At the same time, an Allentown police captain verified that this was a police incident before the firefighters arrived.
"Police units responded to an incident at the scene, and the situation escalated from there," Tuerk said. "It's still under investigation."
Capt. Mike Pychinka with the Allentown Fire Department told WFMZ that crews don't know which building the fire started in, but 719 and 721 Cedar St. seem to have gotten the worst of it.
"There's still active fire in (7)19 or (7)21," he said. "It's in a spot where we can't get crews in there, and it's just playing havoc with us right now."
Pychinka told WFMZ that everyone made it out of the building alive, but one woman was rescued from the basement window.
Four firefighters were sent to the hospital with minor injuries.
Two neighbors were also sent to the hospital, but so far, there is no word on their conditions, according to WFMZ.
Pychinka says all five houses are damaged, and a few more have no power.
According to the news report, people who had nowhere to go were staying warm on a LANTA bus on Thursday evening.
"They're just trying to figure out what's next," Tuerk said. "But good people in the whole neighborhood are coming out, and just making sure they're checking on their loved ones."
Courtesy Lehigh Valley Fire Scene Photos