Nov. 06--A two-alarm fire spread through four city row houses Saturday afternoon, filling the 1100 block of Green Street with heavy, black smoke.
No one was injured in the fire, which was reported just after 4 p.m., though when firefighters arrived it was not known whether there was anyone in the buildings.
"We had some people unaccounted for," said Deputy Fire Chief Ron Wentzel. "But after finding them out in the street, everybody is accounted for."
Firefighters had the blaze under control 15 to 20 minutes after arriving on the scene, Wentzel said.
The fire started in the back of 1161 Green St. and spread through the walls to 1157, 1159 and 1163 Green St., he said.
The fire caused power lines to fall behind the houses, leaving live wires near the ground, Wentzel said.
The city fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.
It was not clear how many people lived in the affected houses.
A large crowd gathered on the street as smoke started billowing out of the homes.
One of the bystanders, Ted Chase, 56, said he could see the smoke as he started to head north on 11th Street from his home at 10th and Court streets.
"I was just passing by," he said. "I saw the smoke. I just wanted to make sure everyone was OK."
The Berks County chapter of the American Red Cross provided food to one family and and food, shelter and clothing to another.
In all, eight people required assistance, according to Red Cross officials.
Contact Liam Migdail-Smith: 610-371-5022 or [email protected].
