Lehigh Valley

Firefighters battle large Lehigh Valley rowhome fire, 2 people hurt

A fire burned through rowhomes along the 700 block of North 7th Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania

NBC Universal, Inc.

Firefighters battled a large fire burning through rowhomes in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on April 30, 2024.

The multiple-alarm fire started at a home on the 700 block of North 7th Street around 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Allentown Fire Department said. As firefighters arrived they saw smoke coming from the roofs of three houses.

"Firefighters immediately entered the buildings to find heavy smoke, heat, and limited visibility on the top floors," the fire department said. "They made an aggressive attack on the fire and conducting search-and-rescue efforts throughout the interior to confirm all occupants had safely evacuated."

SkyForce10 was over the scene a short time later as the fire burned through multiple rowhomes, sending plumes of smoke into the air.

Firefighters managed to keep the flames to the three rowhomes, the fire department said. The blaze was finally placed under control at 7 p.m.

No residents were hurt, firefighters said. However, a firefighter was treated at a hospital and later released and a bystander was hospitalized after inhaling smoke.

The fire left three dozen residents displaced, firefighters said. The Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting those people.

The cause of the rowhome inferno remained under investigation Wednesday.

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