Allentown row home fire goes to three alarms
At least one person was taken to the hospital Thursday after a fire erupted just before noon in an Allentown row home.
Fire Chief Jim Wehr said the first firefighters to arrive at 440 Harrison St. found the first floor of the three-story home near Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital “pretty muchengulfed.”
The fire was trapped in the walls and crews encountered dangerous “flashes” whenflames would abruptly flare up, he said. Thankfully, the chief said, no firefighter was hurt.
Manuel Velazquez, who lives nearby on Harrison Street, said he ran outside after he heard his nephew shouting “Fire!” He saw no flames but heavy black smoke was billowing from the house.
Velazquez said his first thought was to see how he could help, though he was thankful that the fire department was already on scene.
“I’ve been in a burning building before, when I lived down in Norfolk, Virginia,” he said. “So I felt I knew little bit about what to do in that situation.”
Wehr said the fire heavily damaged 440 and at least two neighboring houses on the row, and mayhave done some damage to a fourth house.
“Just about every firefighter in Allentown” was at the scene at some point, he said.
Melissa Cuadrado, who lives across the street from the row homes that caught fire, said her heart went out to those who lost their homes.
“This is scary. I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “I’m just glad everyone is out.”
Cuadrado was keeping her young children inside as crews continued to battle hot spots. Just when it seemed that the air was clearing, thick clouds of smoke would suddenly pour out of the
homes.
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