Raw video as three-alarm PA fire runs through row of homes

Above video from The Morning Call includes narration from fire official

Watch Part 1 of WFMZ-TV raw video from fire

Watch Part 2 of WFMZ-TV raw video from fire

A firefighter’s home was among five damaged by fire this morning in Allentown, PA. The Allentown firefighter was home and off-duty when the fire broke out. Three-alarms were sounding using all of the city’s front-line fire equipment. Here are excerpts from a WFMZ-TV article:

Investigators have pinpointed the origin of the fire to the underside of a deck of one of the homes, but they still haven’t determined what sparked it. The fire spread quickly from there, according to a city contractor on the scene. Within four minutes, the contractor says three homes were engulfed by flames. At one point, all firefighters were ordered to get out of the burning buildings for fear of collapse. More firefighters from around the area were called in to help.

There were only some very minor injuries reported, but nothing serious enough to require transport to a hospital. Emergency radio reports indicated the fire forced 50 people to flee their homes. The American Red Cross responded to the scene and set up a temporary holding center for the evacuated residents at a nearby church, which also provided the community and emergency responders with soup, snacks, and drinks. Valley Farm Market donated lunch. As of this afternoon, The Red Cross said it was helping eight families of 16 adults, two children, and an infant. Officials say six of the families are staying with other relatives or friends. The other two are being housed by the Red Cross.

At the height of the fire, thick smoke could be seen towering into the sky from our camera high atop South Mountain in neighboring Salisbury Township, Lehigh County.