A house collapse and subsequent fires to surrounding homes shook a Lehigh Valley neighborhood early Sunday morning.
Firefighters responded to the 700 block of North Fountain Street in Allentown around 3:25 a.m. to a report of a home collapse and fire, Allentown Fire Department Deputy Chief Efrain Agosto said. The flames quickly jumped to the roofs of surrounding homes, sending people fleeing.
Cindy Hewko said her daughter woke her after hearing a blast that caused her to be knocked off her bed. "She said, 'Run,'" Hewko said.
The family ran outside, trying to get their pets to safety, too. Once out of their home, Hewko said she saw flames on top of a neighbor's roof.
The flames damaged about 10 homes, but no injuries or deaths were immediately reported, Agosto said, adding that the collapsed home appeared to be vacant.
About 35 firefighters responded, according to the chief.
Capt. John Christopher said crews were putting out hot spots but there was no longer an active fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Christopher said arriving crews didn't detect any odor of natural gas.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
The American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania tweeted that it is assisting 47 people from 13 families displaced by the fire.
