Fire destroys Allentown, Pennsylvania apartment building, displaces multiple families

A devastating fire tore through an apartment building in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, leaving multiple families homeless and causing extensive damage to the building.

Firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 8 p.m., and the flames engulfed the building within an hour. Allentown Fire Chief John Turnbull said the fire had likely started in a lower-level apartment, but the cause remains under investigation.

“It was a difficult fire to fight,” Turnbull said. “The flames spread quickly, and the smoke was thick.”

The Allentown Fire Department deployed more than 30 firefighters to the scene and worked to contain the blaze. Crews were able to prevent the flames from spreading to neighboring buildings. They managed to extinguish the fire by midnight, but the damage had been done.

The apartment building sustained extensive structural damage, causing it to be deemed uninhabitable. At least 10 families were displaced as a result of the fire, and they are now being assisted by the Red Cross.

“We are grateful that no one was injured,” Turnbull said. “But it’s a tragedy for these families who have lost their homes.”

The Allentown Fire Department is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire. The department is also working with the Red Cross and other local organizations to provide support to the families affected.