A multiple-alarm fire destroyed a three-story commercial building at 3185 Babcock Blvd. in Ross Township Friday afternoon.
The structure is home to several offices, including Arbors Management Inc.; Santucci Insurance; Eisen & Associates, an attorney's office; Massage Centre for Fibromyalgia and the Studio Raw hair salon.
Salon owner Dan Burda said he had just finished hair for a wedding party and was about to start up-dos for several students who are attending prom in Peters Township when he was alerted the roof was on fire.
"We had smelled smoke, but we just thought it was a blow dryer," Burda said.
Burda said he called 911 after seeing candle-sized flames on the roof. The building was evacuated a short time later. Burda said he was told to get out before the whole building went up in flames.
Within an hour, the rear of the building had collapsed. Everyone escaped from the fire in time. There are no reports of any injuries.
Allentown, Pa. - At 11:07am, Allentown 911 center started receiving multiple calls for a house fire at 203 N. Jordan Street. Box 2221 was transmitted and Engines 4, 9, 6, Truck 2 (E11) and Battalion 3 (Atiyeh) responded.
Battalion 3 arrives and transmits a working fire. Heavy fire was venting out of the 2nd and 3rd floor windows of the 3-story M/O/R.
Truck 2 pulled past the dwelling and engine 4 stopped right before the dwelling and stretched one line to the second floor. Engine 4 crew, under the command of Lt. Bryant worked the line to darken down the fire on the second floor. Lt. Bryant called for a second hand line for the third floor. Both the engine and ladder were supplied with water with the hydrant at Jordan and Turner Streets.
The heat was to intense on the third floor and crews had to back out for a short time. Another hand line was stretched from Truck 2 to the rear of the property and another into the Delta exposure.
Chief 40 arrived and transmitted the second alarm as the fire started to extend to exposure Delta. A third hand line was stretched from Engine 4 to the Bravo exposure but remained dry.
The 2nd alarm consisted of Engines 14 (F.A.S.T.), 10, 13, Air 1, Car 41, 46, 47 and 48.
Two more hand lines were stretched to the front of the fire building to work on dousing the flames on the exterior of the house.
Crews were on the scene for 3 hours overhauling. The Fire Marshall's office is investigating.
A total of 7 lines were stretched and 6 were in-service.
Bethlehem, Pa. - Just before 16:00 hours, firefighters were dispatched to 2785 Commerce Center Blvd, the site of Bethlehem Steel's Coke Works property.
Command arrived and had a working fire on the roof of a 300'x600' industrial building that was under construction. Roofing material caught on fire and started burning.
The fire caused heavy black smoke that could be seen as far away as Whitehall.
To further hamper fighting the fire, most of the hydrants on the property were not working.
The fire was under control about an hour later and companies remained on the scene overhauling.
Photos by staff photographer Dennis Wetherhold Jr.
Allentown, Pa - Allentown Fire Department's 3rd Platoon battles two late morning house fires.
Shortly after 10:00 hours, box 2428 was transmitted for a house fire at Buffalo and Walnut Streets. Engines 4, 10, 6, Truck 2 (E11) and Battalion 3 (Atiyeh) respond.
Battalion 3 arrives in the area with nothing showing and investigates. He quickly gives the address of 15 1/2 South 19th Street for smoke from the roof of a 2-story Middle-Of-Row (M/O/R).
Crews stretch a hand line to the second floor and find a fire in the middle bedroom. The fire is quickly darkened down.
Battalion 3 signals a working fire and Engine 9 is assigned the F.A.S.T. company. Searches are (-).
Just after 11:00 hours, box 2513 was transmitted for a house fire at 119 North Franklin Street. Engines 6, 10, 9, Truck 2 (E11) and Battalion 3 (Atiyeh) respond.
Battalion 3 arrives and has heavy smoke from the roof of a 3-story Middle-Of-Row. Battalion 3's firefighter (43A) quickly finds the roof on fire.
Engine 6 stretches one line to the roof and they make a quick hit on the fire. Battalion 3 transmits the 2nd alarm, bringing in Engines 4, 11, 14, Air 1, Car 40 and FM 3.
Truck company 2 sets up on Franklin Street. Engine 6 also flies the squirt to the roof.
Engine 6 has a water supply from Linden and Franklin. Crews check for extension and overhaul.
Lightning causes a 3-alarm fire at the Dow Chemical Plant in Bristol early this morning.
Phillyburbs.com reports:
Approximately 3:30am a 250,000 gallons holding tank of chemicals was hit by lightning at the Dow chemical plant in Bristol.
Fire spread to a second 250,000 gallon tank and firefighters used foam to contain fire but it flared up several times.
The fire went to three alarm and fire companies from NJ and PA responded to the scene.
Several firefighters needed to evaluated by EMS. Fire command is reporting for residents in surrounding area should limit there exposure to the fumes by staying indoors and closing windows.
A press release by the PR department at Dow chemical said the chemicals burning were ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, chemicals used as a coating in paint.
A Bristol volunteer fire policeman who was at the scene died from a heart attack after leaving the fire because he felt sick. David Wintz was 66.
The National Transmission Shop on U.S. Rt. 6 in the City of Portage was destroyed Monday Afternoon.
Employees heard a loud pop right before the fire and tried to put it out with two extinguishers. 2 employees were transported to area hospitals with smoke inhalation.
One firefighter with heat exhaustion was transported to the hospital.
Buffalo firefighters were busy over the weekend battling fires in vacant dwellings and a fatal fire. Check out the three videos from Youtube. Photographers were busy this week in Buffalo.
The first fire (above video) at 166 Walden Avenue Saturday morning at 00:31 hours.
Youtube Channel's Murthad02 writes this about the fire:
Buffalo Firefighters responded early this morning at 0031 Hrs for a report of a structure fire on Walden Ave.
F-11 went on location with fire showing from the rear of a 2 story vacant dwelling. B-56 reported fire on the 1st floor with possible extension to the 2nd floor & attic.
B-56 further reported the building structurally comprimised and ordered defensive operations.
The next fire Murthad02 shot was at 2972 Bailey Avenue Saturday morning at 00:55 hours. He wrote this about the fatal fire:
Buffalo Firefighters responded early this morning at 0055 Hrs for a report of a structure fire on Bailey Ave.
Engine 23 went on location with fire showing from a 1 1/2 story mixed use building and a report of a victim inside.
B-47 reported heavy fire on the 1st floor of the occupied building with an exposure problem on the #2 side and requested an additional 1 & 1 (E33, L4) to the scene.
Rescue 1 located a victim on the 1st floor and reported an obvious DOA.
The fire was under control in 36 minutes.
The two videos below was shot Monday morning at 02:27 hours on Goodyear Avenue damaged two vacant homes and is considered suspicious.
Photo of Car Fire at Lehigh Valley Mall. Mike Nester Photo.
School Bus Accident, Level 1 MCI
A school bus and a car collided at Hamilton Blvd and Interstate 78 Friday evening at 18:05 hours. Macungie EMS 66-82 called for a level 1 MCI. 15 kids were injured and the bus driver cited for failure to yield.
Fire In A Vacant Dwelling Quickly Extinguished In Allentown
Firefighters made a quick knock of a fire on the first floor of a two-story dwelling Friday night around 23:32 hours. The complete story is here.
Whitehall FD Battles Car Fire On The Lot Of Lehigh Valley Mall
The engine compartment of a minivan caught fire late Saturday morning. Whitehall sent 3 engines to battle the flames. Photos by Mike Nester.
Lehigh County Companies Assist Berks With Three Alarm Fire In A Barn
Numerous Lehigh County Companies including Alburtis, Trexlertown and Macungie assisted Topton Fire Department with a fully involved barn on E. State Street in Longswamp Township Saturday Morning at 09:30. The fire was brought under control about an hour later.
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