ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 A massive fire destroyed a former furniture factory in eastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday, a blaze that forced some area residents to flee their homes.<\/p>\n
Crews responded to the six-alarm fire in Allentown at about 8:41 p.m. ET, Lehigh Valley News <\/a>reported. <\/p>\n Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames engulfing the vacant former furniture factory, located in the city\u2019s riverside area, the news outlet reported. According to a news release from the Allentown Fire Department, crews attacked the blaze from multiple sides of the building and brought it under control in about two hours.<\/p>\n The fire also spread across the street and damaged seven homes, according to KYW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Several Allentown, Pennsylvania, residents were forced from their homes Wednesday night after a six-alarm fire destroyed an old industrial building. Here’s the latest. https:\/\/t.co\/EA1WKPrI6c<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) June 25, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n One firefighter was hurt during the response to this incident, WCAU<\/a> reported. On Thursday, fire officials said the first responder is expected to make a full recovery, according to the television station.<\/p>\n Flames spread to all three floors and placed nearby buildings in jeopardy, WFMZ<\/a> reported. Dozens of firefighters from across the region were called to assist.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest fire I\u2019ve ever seen in my entire life. It was insane. It was hot — smoke everywhere,\u201d Shawn Sell told WPVI<\/a>. \u201cI got text messages from friends 30 miles away, asking me if I was OK. And they saw the big plumes of smoke.\u201d<\/p>\n Around 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto said at least one rowhome was still burning in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know how it started, we don\u2019t know where it started,\u201d Agosto told reporters<\/a>. \u201cYou could barely stand here, it was that hot.\u201d<\/p>\n