ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Multiple fire crews were on the scene of a massive commercial building fire near the Allentown riverfront Wednesday night.
County dispatchers said the blaze in the 300 block of Front Street escalated to a six-alarm response. The first alarm came in around 8:40 p.m.
Crews spent the night in an urgent battle to keep the fire at the former factory from spreading to other buildings on the block.
Firefighters were attacking the flames from the ground while deploying multiple aerial ladder units to battle the blaze from above.
All three floors of the building were on fire, and PPL turned off power in that area.
As of 11:30 p.m., more than 2,100 PPL customers in the area were without power as a result. The City of Allentown said in a social media post that a significant portion of the area is expected to remain without power through the night.
UGI crews shut off gas to the entire block.
The structure sustained significant damage, and with walls and portions of the roof collapsed.
Shelter in place
Officials advised residents in the surrounding area to shelter in place until further notice.
Residents in the 300 block of Front Street were told to exit their properties through their backyards, according to police Capt. Joshua Brubaker.
The Allentown Police Department advised people to stay clear of the affected area and seek alternate routes. Police said residents should not attempt to return to their homes until emergency personnel determine it is safe, and they should follow all instructions from police, fire and emergency responders on scene.
Authorities said they evacuated all the row homes across the street while fire crews examine the structures for any possible fire issues.
Where to get help
Residents who are impacted by Wednesday night’s fire in the 1st Ward can find shelter at Resurrected Life Church, formerly Liberty Bell Church, at 620 W. Hamilton St., according to Allentown City Council in a social media post.
The City of Allentown said it will be sharing more information on resources for those affected by the fire as the city works with faith leaders and community members. It also said the American Red Cross was on the scene assisting.
There is no immediate word on what caused the fire or if any injuries have been reported.
This is a developing story. Stick with 69 News on the web and tune in to 69 News at Sunrise on Thursday for updates as more information becomes available.
