Photos/Story By Greg Leaman

A city Fire left 22 people homeless and severely damaged four row homes Friday night Jan 25, but no one was injured in the four alarm fire. Flames could be seen from several blocks away in the night sky.

Flames were first spotted coming from the third-floor window in a house at 123 South Marshall street around 10p.m.

The fire soon spread to neighboring homes at 121 and 125 South Marshall Street even as firefighters fought the fire from the rooftops and sprayed a stream of water onto the flames.

Ground ladders were used to reach neighboring rooftops to get at the flames. Firefighters sprayed a stream of water into the third-floor windows while monitoring the flames from the rooftop. After two hours, the flames had diminished but were still burning.

According to battalion Chief Robert Pennypacker, the fire was not completely extinguished until 1:35 a.m. today. He estimated about 35-40 firefighters were on the scene during the blaze.

Houses at 123 and 125 South Marshall Street were extensively damaged, said Pennypacker.

He estimated the loss at about $200,000.

Angie Deardorf of the American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley said the 16 adults and 6 children are being housed at local hotels.

She said the Red Cross is providing the families meals, clothing, medical supplies and comfort kits until they are relocated.

Deardorf noted that is the second fire in a week that has left people homeless in the area.