NAZARETH, Pa. – A three-alarm fire erupted in a building in Nazareth early Tuesday morning, leading to significant damage to both a restaurant and a learning center.
The fire broke out in the 100 block of South Main Street, primarily affecting the second-story apartments. It quickly spread to the China Wok restaurant and the Lehigh Learning Academy next door. Fire officials upgraded the alarm to a third level as the blaze spread, calling in additional manpower.
Fire crews battled the flames throughout the night and were able to clear the scene shortly after 5 a.m. Fortunately, there were no injuries among people or firefighters, although three pets living in one of the affected units did not survive.
Around 80 to 100 firefighters from various companies, including Palmer Township and Hecktown, responded to the incident. The Red Cross was also present to assist six tenants displaced by the fire. The learning center has been closed, and the China Wok has been completely destroyed.
Nazareth Fire Department Chief Jerry Johnson described the challenges firefighters faced while fighting the blaze. He said, “The whole back of the building was burning, and it took a little while to establish water supply lines. The back part of the building is somewhat secluded, with parking lots, cars, and alleys in the area.”
The owner of China Wok has been in contact with authorities and is working with insurance to secure the building. The State Police Fire Marshal is conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
