ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A fast-moving sequence of three fires Thursday night stretched Allentown Fire Department resources across the city, requiring extensive mutual aid and prompting renewed warnings about the importance of smoke alarms.
Just before 8 p.m. Jan. 8, firefighters were dispatched to a large commercial structure fire in the 1100 block of N. Irving Street, where heavy smoke was pouring from the building, officials said.
A working fire was declared and at 8:07 p.m. a second alarm was struck, according to Capt. Jonathan Hammel, captain of public affairs.
As that incident escalated, a second fire was reported in the 400 block of Washington Street.
A third, much smaller fire followed shortly after.
At least 15 departments provide aid
Hammel said mutual aid — response from neighboring departments — made all the difference.
“At this juncture I have 15 fire departments and very well could have missed one of those,” Hammel said Friday morning, describing the scale of response.
The Irving Street fire ultimately went to a third alarm, drawing a large concentration of Allentown units and mutual aid companies.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries, while no civilians were hurt, fire officials said.
Crews remained on scene into the early morning hours performing overhaul and fire watch, and a hazmat unit was requested as a precaution.
The cause remains under investigation.
“That fire scene on Washington, we only had one engine company there besides some of the administrative staff like myself who responded into that scene from home," Hammel said.
"Otherwise, that was handled almost entirely with our mutual aid companies."
That fire, which officials said broke out on the third floor and spread through concealed void spaces, was upgraded to a second alarm.
Five residents were displaced, one of whom received assistance from the American Red Cross. No injuries were reported.
'Would have been much different'
Hammel said the city backfills each station when fires reach a certain alarm, even on a single fire, so fire stations “have the same capabilities that residents have every day of the week.”
He said the cluster of fires so far this season has followed a familiar pattern for the department.
“Traditionally it seems to go in ebb and flows,” he said. “When I first got promoted to this role, we went three months without having a bigger fire. The lid came off the jar.”
“My concern is for the guys and certainly whatever we can do to help keep people safe."Capt. Jonathan Hammel, Allentown Fire Department captain of public affairs.
Beyond the operational challenges, Hammel emphasized that modern fires move faster and burn hotter than in the past, leaving occupants with far less time to escape.
“It’s not necessarily the home, but what we put in our homes — the smoke is so much more toxic, it puts off a lot more heat, a lot more particulate in the smoke, which is generally more easily ignitable,” he said.
“We use to have 10 to 15 minutes to get out of the house. Now it’s about 5 minutes or less, and in many cases it's less depending on what's burning.”
He urged residents to ensure working smoke alarms are installed and maintained.
“Definitely a reminder to check the smoke alarms — we can’t stress that enough,” Hammel said. “I’m trying everywhere I can to show people" how important it is.
For Hammel, the concern is both public safety and firefighter safety.
“My concern is for the guys and certainly whatever we can do to help keep people safe,” he said.
A release from the department highlighted its appreciation for all the assistance provided by mutual aid partners that responded to a fire scene or provided coverage for residents of the city while all resources were committed.
“Without their continued partnership and assistance, the outcomes of last night’s incidents would have been much different,” the release stated.
