ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A group of Lehigh Valley nonprofits are working to help Allentown residents find their feet after a fire tore through several downtown buildings Monday evening.
The Hamilton Street Fire Fund will offer “rapid financial support” to almost two dozen people, including several children, whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the fire, according to organizers.
Allentown firefighters were called around 5:30 p.m. Monday to the 1100 block of Hamilton Street, where several commercial and residential properties were up in flames.
All but the first floor of the burned-out buildings must be demolished.Joseph Franzone, Allentown building and construction superintendent
Firefighters searched the buildings and confirmed all occupants escaped uninjured, but 21 people were displaced, according to officials.
Other firefighters climbed on the roof to ventilate the structure and limit fire spread.
Crews were forced to evacuate the blazing buildings and fight the flames from outside after interior conditions deteriorated, fire officials said.
Six firefighters were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. One person from a nearby building also was taken to a hospital for a medical emergency.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Organizations work on long-term aid
Joseph Franzone, an Allentown building code official, said Tuesday that all but the first floor of the burned-out buildings must be demolished.
Donations made to the Hamilton Street Fire Fund “will be carefully managed and used exclusively for those impacted by the fire."Marci Lesko, chief executive officer for the regional United Way
The Hamilton Street Fire Fund is being run by the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, the local Salvation Army chapter, Community Action Lehigh Valley, and River Crossings YMCA.
Those organizations say they will work to give long-term assistance to families affected by the fire.
The Lehigh Conference of Churches, Promise Neighborhoods, Valley Health Partners and the City of Allentown are among the fund’s other supporters.
Donations made to the Hamilton Street Fire Fund “will be carefully managed and used exclusively for those impacted by the fire,” according to Marci Lesko, chief executive officer for the regional United Way.
