EASTON, Pa. — Firefighters from several departments battled a roaring blaze that consumed a row of homes Monday afternoon in the city’s West Ward.
Flames tore through 15 row homes on the north side of the 900 block of Ferry Street, between Ninth and 10th streets, said city Fire Chief Henry Hennings.
- The fire was first reported at 3:40 p.m. Monday
- Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings said 15 homes were affected
- The cause was not immediately available
Hennings declared the blaze under control around 8 p.m., more than four hours after it began. All of the homes were badly damaged or destroyed, he said.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, including one who was taken to the hospital, according to the chief.
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said everyone got out safely from the homes and no residents were injured. But he said damage was significant.
Panto said he expected that all of the homes on that side of the block would be a total loss.
Hennings said it was too early to know the cause.
"This is a very bad fire, probably the worst we’ve had in four or five years," Panto said. "A lot of families are going to be displaced. They lost everything.
"This fire’s going to go from one end of the block all the way down to the other end."
Red Cross response
A Red Cross official said upward of 60 people may be displaced and require assistance.
Peter Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Rivers chapter of the American Red Cross that covers the Lehigh Valley, said the agency is responding to the disaster.
He said the Red Cross is opening an overnight shelter at 10 p.m. at Paxinosa Elementary School at 1221 Northampton St., a few blocks from where the homes were destroyed.
Brown couldn't say with certainty how many people might require a place to stay.
“We’re not sure yet. There were also adjacent homes (in the neighborhood) where power was shut off and we’re not sure when power will be restored," he said.
Red Cross officials will know better Tuesday if the shelter will need to remain open beyond Monday night.
“Everything else will be determined by what we find out (tonight)," he said. "There are multiple homes that are a complete loss. ”
Anyone directly affected by the fire or looking for friends or family affected can go to Paxinosa Elementary School, he said.
Residents stunned
Jennifer Faust lived in one of the homes ravaged by fire. She said she was working at CVS in Allentown when she received a frantic call from her husband. She rushed home to find the block in ruins.
"They got my grandchildren out. All they had is socks on," Faust said. "All I want to do is get in there and get my husband’s dad’s urn. I don’t care about anything else."
Panto said he was grateful for mutual aid from other fire departments. Dozens of firefighters sprayed water and used chainsaws to cut through roofs.
A fire is affecting multiple homes in the 900 block of Ferry Street in the West Ward. Please avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to access the scene. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/uFuKshZMb1
— City of Easton PA Official (@cityofeastonpa) May 29, 2023
The fire was first reported at 3:40 p.m., according to a supervisor with the Northampton County 911 Center.
Besides the Easton Fire Department, answering the call were firefighters from Phillipsburg, Stewartsville, Wilson Borough, West Easton, Catasauqua, Forks, Palmer, Bethlehem and Hanover townships.
"They’re soaking these buildings but unfortunately the fire flares up again," Panto said.
The blaze drew a huge crowd in the tightly-packed neighborhood.
