ALLENTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Crews battled a massive six-alarm fire through the night at a former furniture factory in Allentown. Several homes across the street were damaged, and many people were displaced. A firefighter was also injured.
The fire broke out around 9 p.m. Wednesday at the former American Atelier factory at Front and Gordon streets, near the riverfront in Allentown.
Assistant Fire Chief Jon Steed said that within 15 minutes of arriving on the scene, they went all the way up to six alarms to get crews from nearby communities to help out.
The flames completely engulfed the 100-year-old block-long building and charred seven row homes across the street.
The residents inside managed to get out safely; Steed said they issued an alert telling them to leave through the back of their homes.
Other nearby homes were also evacuated as a precaution. The Red Cross is helping all of the displaced people.
A firefighter suffered minor injuries. No residents were hurt.
Firefighters got the blaze under control after a few hours.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.