ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Two juveniles are in custody following the investigation into Wednesday night’s massive six-alarm fire that devastated a former industrial building in Allentown and caused significant damage to nearby homes.
Authorities announced Friday that the juveniles have been taken into custody in connection with the fire. Because they are minors, their identities have not been released, and officials have not disclosed the specific charges at this time.
The fire broke out Wednesday evening in the 300 block of North Front Street and rapidly grew into one of the largest fires Allentown has seen in recent years. Thick smoke and flames could be seen for miles as firefighters from departments throughout the region responded under multiple alarms to battle the blaze.
The vacant industrial building sustained catastrophic damage, with portions of the structure collapsing during firefighting operations. The intense fire spread across the street, damaging several occupied homes and forcing evacuations in the surrounding neighborhood.
Residents in the immediate area were advised to shelter in place as crews worked to contain the fire. Families living in homes affected by the blaze were displaced, and emergency shelters were made available for those in need.
Firefighters remained on scene for hours extinguishing hotspots and ensuring the fire did not spread further. One firefighter suffered minor injuries during the response.
The investigation remains ongoing as fire officials continue working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities have not released additional information regarding the juveniles or the timeline leading to their arrests.
Anyone with information related to the fire is encouraged to contact investigators.
First Source News will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
