ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Multiple fire crews are on the scene of a massive commercial building fire near the Allentown riverfront Wednesday night.
County dispatchers say 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.
Now, crews are in an urgent battle to keep the fire at the former factory from spreading to other buildings on the block.
Firefighters are currently attacking the flames from the ground while deploying multiple aerial ladder units to battle the blaze from above.
All three floors of the building are on fire, and PPL has 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.
UGI crews are shutting off gas to the entire block.
The structure has sustained significant damage, and portions of the roof are completely collapsed.
Parts of the walls have collapsed, with fire damage visible throughout the structure.
Jayson Wagner | for WFMZ-TV
Shelter in place
Officials are advising residents in the surrounding area to shelter in place until further notice.
Residents in the 300 block of Front Street should exit their properties through their backyards, according to police Capt. Joshua Brubaker.
The Allentown Police Department is advising people to stay clear of the affected area and seek alternate routes. Police say 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.
Jayson Wagner | for WFMZ-TV
Authorities say they have 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 says to follow the Allentown Police Department for additional updates as they become available.
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.
The Allentown Planning Commission reviewed four major apartment complexes during a 6-hour meeting on Tuesday afternoon.