ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Emergency crews battled a fire that broke out at a three-story building in Allentown.
That fire broke out at Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant on Liberty and Seventh Street. The first arriving units found heavy smoke from the front of the building and fire showing from the rear on the first floor, according to a news release from the Allentown Fire Department.
The fire was called in just after 3:30 a.m. Thursday. The fire was brought under control in approximately two hours, the fire department said in its news release.
Firefighters cleared the scene shortly before 8 a.m., after sticking around earlier in the morning to keep an eye on any hot spots that could potentially break out.
Mike Nester | for WFMZ-TV
Officials tell us once the flames started shooting up towards the ceiling, that’s when they called in additional units upgrading it to a second-alarm fire.
They tell me tenants who live in apartments above the restaurant on the second and third floor were able to safely evacuate the building when they saw smoke.
No residents or firefighters were injured.
The Red Cross will not be called in to assist as residents all have a place to stay nearby.
Jayson Wagner | for WFMZ-TV
The Allentown Captain of Public Affairs tells me they were able to contain the fire quickly, but one of the morning’s challenges was dealing with the cold.
“It does become a big trip, slip, and fall hazard for us. On a lot of these cold nights like this, that’s where we’re going to have injuries and a good potential for that injury is that falling factor,” said Jonathan Hammel, Captain of Public Affairs with the Allentown Fire Department.
The heaviest of damage remains on the first-floor restaurant level from the fire.
We’re told the fire marshal has been called in to investigate the cause.
Seventh Street has since reopened but Liberty remains closed with a unit working to clear the scene.
Reporter Sydney Kay will have the latest updates every half hour on 69 News at Sunrise. Stay with 69 News as we follow this breaking situation.