BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A massive fire Friday that heavily damaged the Five10 Flats apartment and retail complex on Bethlehem's South Side started on the building's roof, city fire officials confirmed Saturday.
All 135 residents of the building have been relocated to temporary housing at hotels arranged by the 510 Flats apartment management team, fire officials said.
The structure was turned over to Paul Davis damage restoration company, they said. It will remain closed while repairs are made.
"The Fire Marshal’s office will release an update next week when the cause of the fire is confirmed."Bethlehem Fire Department in a release
Fire personnel remained at the building Saturday morning.
"The fire originated on the roof of the building and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office," the city fire department said in a release.
"The Fire Marshal’s office will release an update next week when the cause of the fire is confirmed."
Former Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, director of business development for Peron Development, which built Five10 Flats, told LehighValleyNews.com Friday that a rooftop cigarette butt may have caused the fire.
Callahan said a resident "was smoking on the rooftop deck and put a cigarette butt in one of the plants and... on the [security] cameras... we watched it smolder."
The fire department's release did not confirm that.
No injuries, recovery aided
Residents on scene were escorted into the building to get their
essential items, and all were cleared from the building and a temporary shelter was closed at 8:43 p.m., the department said.
"The City of Bethlehem Police Department assisted in successfully evacuating all residents without any reported
injuries," the city said in the release.
"Thick smoke was pouring from the rooftop filling the street below upon arrival. The fire was upgraded to a 3rd and eventually 4th alarm. Strong winds at the time fanned flames across the rooftop."Bethlehem Fire Department release
"There were also no injuries of emergency personnel reported and City of Bethlehem EMS personnel provided rehab services for all emergency service personnel."
The release said that at 1:17 p.m. Friday, "multiple telephone calls and fire alarm signals were received by Northampton County 911 Center reporting a structure fire."
Bethlehem Fire Department was at the scene at 510 E. 3rd St. "within 1 ½ minutes," the release said. "While enroute, the fire was upgraded to a 2nd alarm."
The building is five stories and contained 95 apartments on floors 2-5 and seven businesses on the 1st floor.
"Thick smoke was pouring from the rooftop filling the street below upon arrival," the release said. "The fire was upgraded to a 3rd and eventually 4th alarm.
"Strong winds at the time fanned flames across the rooftop."
Mutual aid
All city fire units were on scene fighting the fire and multiple City of Bethlehem firefighters were called in from home to assist.
Allentown Fire Department assisted at the fire scene and covered other emergency calls in the city until Bethlehem reserve engines were staffed.
A temporary shelter was established across the street from the fire building, at the Northampton Community College Fowler Center.
The City of Bethlehem Health Bureau assisted staffing the shelter, organizing evacuees and transportation needs.
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority provided
transportation for residents to the hotels as needed. The Red Cross was also on scene assisting residents.
The Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team responded and setup in the Fowler Center parking lot to assist numerous resident pets.
The fire was brought under control at 6:50 p.m., the release said.
Assisting at the scene were the City of Bethlehem EMS, Police, and Buildings Departments, Bethlehem Health Bureau, Allentown Fire Department, Nancy Run Fire Company, Easton FD, Bethlehem Township FD, Lower Saucon FD, Hanover Township Northampton County FD, Palmer Township FD, LANTA, Red Cross, Lehigh Valley CART Team, and Northampton Community College Public Safety.
Several area fire departments provided coverage of neighboring communities while their departments were assisting at the fire.
