ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Firefighters from across eastern Pennsylvania are battling a massive 6th Alarm fire that erupted Wednesday evening in a large industrial complex in the 300 block of North Front Street in Allentown.
The fire was initially dispatched to 10 Pump Place, but as crews arrived, they encountered a rapidly spreading blaze involving a block-long industrial structure. Heavy smoke and flames were visible throughout the building, prompting incident commanders to quickly escalate the response from a 3rd Alarm to a 4th, 5th, and ultimately a 6th Alarm as additional manpower and specialized equipment were requested.
The fire has drawn firefighters from numerous departments throughout Lehigh County and neighboring counties. Ladder trucks, engine companies, tanker task forces, rehabilitation units, and command staff have all been called to assist in what has become one of the region’s largest fire responses of the year.
Due to the size of the building and the volume of fire, crews transitioned to a primarily defensive operation, utilizing multiple aerial master streams in an effort to contain the blaze while protecting nearby structures. Emergency radio traffic indicated portions of surrounding buildings were beginning to show signs of heat exposure as firefighters worked to keep the fire from spreading further.
As the fire continued to burn, officials issued several public safety advisories for residents and motorists in the area. Authorities are advising residents in the surrounding neighborhood to shelter in place until further notice due to the ongoing emergency and heavy smoke conditions.
According to Allentown Police Capt. Joshua Brubaker, residents living in the 300 block of Front Street who need to leave their homes should exit through their backyards to avoid the active emergency scene.
The Allentown Police Department is also urging the public to stay clear of the affected area and use alternate routes. Residents are asked not to attempt to return to their homes until emergency personnel determine it is safe and to follow all instructions from police, fire, and emergency responders on scene.
Thick black smoke continues to blanket portions of the city as firefighters work to bring the massive blaze under control.
As of this publication, there have been no officially confirmed reports of civilian or firefighter injuries, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
First Source News will continue to monitor this developing incident and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
