25 displaced, pets killed in Allentown 2-alarm blaze, fire chief says

More than two dozen people are homeless after a swift-moving blaze ignited and spread to neighboring row homes in Allentown, a fire official said.

City Fire Chief Efrain Agosto Jr. said the fire started just before 11:20 a.m. Sunday in the 400 block of North 16th Street. A large column of smoke could be seen from several blocks away as the city’s battalion chief called in a second alarm for additional equipment, Agosto said.

The fire chief said responding crews found four homes with heavy flames. The incident began somewhere in the back of one of the homes and spread to four other units. Multiple hose lines were used to bring the fire under control in about 40 minutes, Agosto said.

All five homes were damaged in Sunday’s blaze. A pet dog and pet cat died in the fire. Firefighters were able to save other animals, including multiple cats and a reptile.

Of the 25 people displaced, 11 were receiving aid from the American Red Cross PA Rivers Chapter. PPL Electric Utilities additionally has since shut off power to the affected homes.

Sunday’s blaze, including its cause, remains under investigation by the city’s fire marshal.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.