ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A 68-year-old woman has died following a two-alarm house fire Tuesday morning in the 400 block of North Jerome Street, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the home around 9:30 a.m. after reports of a residential fire. The first arriving fire company reached the scene minutes later, finding heavy fire visible from the side of the two-story home and immediately declaring a working fire.
As firefighters encountered flames extending into concealed spaces within the structure, a second alarm was requested to bring additional personnel to the scene.
While crews searched the home, they located the 68-year-old woman on the first floor. She was removed from the residence but was pronounced dead at 10:38 a.m.
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office confirmed the woman has been identified and that her next of kin have been notified. Her name is being withheld until after an autopsy is completed and family notifications are finalized.
Four Allentown firefighters were transported to a local hospital during the incident. Three were treated for heat-related illnesses, while a fourth was evaluated for a laceration. All have since been released and are expected to return to duty.
Fire officials said the blaze was brought under control shortly after additional second-alarm companies arrived. Investigators indicated the fire had spread into hidden void spaces within the home, making suppression efforts more challenging.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Allentown Fire Department, the Lehigh County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
