ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Four people have been displaced after a two-alarm fire destroyed one home and heavily damaged a second one on Adams Island in Allentown Monday night.
In a news release, the Allentown Fire Department said weather conditions after this weekend’s snowstorm made fighting the fire more difficult.
The fire department said crews were sent to Adams Island for the report of a house fire around 6:30 p.m. Monday. Crews saw flames coming through the roof of the homes, according to the news release.
Rich Rolen | for WFMZ-TV
Firefighting efforts were slowed due to the difficult access to that part of the city, and the wind-driven fire conditions which caused a second home to catch fire, bringing the incident to a second alarm in spite of having additional units staffed for the storm, the fire department said.
The fire department said snow and ice made deploying and advancing hoses treacherous. The cold caused some of the equipment and personal protective gear to freeze, so that crews were unable to use them, according to the news release.
In addition, Adams Island only has one fire hydrant, the department said, and it was not nearby.
Rich Rolen | for WFMZ-TV
Several firefighters were evaluated by the Paramedics due to falls, the fire department said.
The fire was brought under control around 9:30 p.m. Crews remained on scene performing overhaul and extinguishing hotspots well into the night.
There were no injuries to civilians, and all escaped on their own, according to the news release. The fire department said four people who were displaced have found alternative housing on their own.
One home is reportedly beyond repair, the city fire department said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal.