A six-alarm fire broke out at a former furniture factory in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday evening, displacing seven families and leaving thousands without electricity, according to fire officials.
The blaze was reported shortly after 8:40 p.m. local time at the vacant structure on North Front Street. Flames quickly reached nearby homes, prompting the evacuation of residents. More than 100 firefighters responded and worked through the night to contain the fire. Intense heat caused parts of the building to collapse.
Power was cut to approximately 3,500 homes at the height of the incident, with over 950 still affected by Thursday morning. One firefighter sustained an injury but is expected to recover fully. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk expressed sympathy for affected residents and praised the efforts of firefighters and neighboring departments. He urged the public to avoid the area and to direct assistance through the Red Cross. Local police advised nearby residents to shelter in place until the situation was fully stabilized.
