4 hurt, dog missing and home ‘total loss’ as flames ravage Lehigh Co. home, fire chief says

Four people are hurt, a dog has gone missing and a home has been deemed a total loss after flames completely gutted a Slatington home, a fire official said.

Slatington Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Rob Reph told lehighvalleylive.com flames ignited sometime overnight Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning at the home in the 400 block of Second Street. Responding crews rescued four people, as well as some pets from inside, Reph said.

The four were taken to area hospitals for treatment of injuries, the chief said.

Conditions were not immediately available Friday morning.

WFMZ-News is reporting the injuries were minor to moderate of each.

The blaze quickly went to three alarms, bringing in additional manpower and apparatus. Roughly 15 agencies responded to the call, Reph said.

Crews additionally had many obstacles to overcome in fighting the blaze, Reph said.

Frigid temps froze fire hydrants, which led to firefighters having to reach other hydrants farther away from the scene. The second floor of the home ended up collapsing onto the main level, which prevented them from making a complete interior attack.

“Due to safety concerns, the crew were pulled out and the fire became an exterior attack,” Reph said.

Flames were brought under control in about 30 to 45 minutes, however, crews remained on scene for multiple hours, he said.

In the end, the home was been deemed a “total loss” by fire officials. Neighboring homes on either side of the home the fire originated in also have some damage. Those neighboring homes were briefly evacuated but residents have since returned, Reph said.

The fire chief said the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region has since stepped in to help the four displaced residents. A dog remains missing and hasn’t been accounted for, Reph said.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by Slatington fire officials.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

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