READING, Pa. – Several families are displaced after a fire tore through a rowhome in Reading Friday morning.
Crews were called just after 10 a.m. to 213 Chapel Terrace. Reading Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss says firefighters arrived to find heavy fire on the first floor.
“Our members arrived to find a significant fire condition on the first floor that extended up through the second and also into 211, and then we also had some fire travel into 215,” said Searfoss.
Because the homes are connected, the fire spread next door. Officials say 211, 213 and 215 Chapel Terrace were all affected. No one was home at 213 at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.
Searfoss said multiple people live in the two occupied homes.
“So, I believe we’re looking at a total somewhere around 12 or 13 between the two occupied buildings,” he said.
The Red Cross has been contacted to assist those displaced. Firefighters say snow and tight street conditions made access more challenging.
“One of the things that’s challenging us is Chapel Terrace is a smaller street. We’re dealing with snow, accumulated snow, and we’re also dealing with parking habits because of the snow,” Searfoss said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“It’s still under investigation. We’re still in the infancy, a couple hours into this,” added Searfoss.