ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A three-alarm fire that began around 9:34 a.m. Saturday in Allentown has displaced five families including eight children, according to the Allentown Fire Department.

Fire officials say crews were dispatched to the 500 block of Allen Street for a house fire, with initial reports by a 911 caller of people trapped and fire coming from the roof.

According to a fire department news release, approximately five minutes after crews arrived the Battalion Chief requested a second alarm bringing two additional engine companies, County Air 1, and a second truck company. Ten minutes after the second alarm, the incident commander requested a third alarm bringing County units into the city to backfill the fire stations as well as additional units to the scene.

“It was chaos. So many police, so many from the fire department. They actually had to block all the streets,” said Eddy Osario, a resident in the neighborhood. 

Osorio describes the moment a fire broke out down the street from his home on the 500 block of Allen Street in Allentown around 9:30 in the morning.

“The fire just started to spread rapidly,” he said.

Paramedics and police officers assisted the residents and secured the area allowing the fire department to operate safely. The streets department assisted fire-police with barricades and brought salt to the scene to clear up ice around fire equipment.

There were a total of 5 homes affected by the fire with 5 families being displaced. The American Red Cross assisted 20 adults and 7 children who stayed warm in a Lanta bus that was brought to the scene. Red Cross volunteers provided care, comforat and financial assistance to the families affected.

Osorio says he saw people being evacuated from their homes.

“Especially around these holidays you know what I mean. You feel sad. You feel bad for what’s occurring now because now.. it’s just imagine what they have to go through,” said Osario. 

Restoration crews have been brought in to board up the homes.

“I mean I guess whatever we can do to help those families out you know what I mean. If we can get that, that would be amazing, you know what I mean. Just figure out how to help people especially around this time around the holidays because it’s very difficult. I can’t even imagine that,” he said. 

The fire department says there have been no reported injuries to emergency responders or civilians.

The cause of the fire is unknown and is actively being investigated by the Fire Marshal division.