Man Jumps From Window to Escape Pa. House Fire

March 14--An Allentown man jumped out a second-floor window of his burning row home on N. Front Street Wednesday morning.

Allentown Assistant Fire Chief Lee Laubach said Nelson Rivera had already jumped before the fire department arrived at 511 N. Front St., and he was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. He was still being treated in the emergency room Wednesday afternoon, but Laubach said he was told Rivera would be admitted overnight for observation because of possible back injuries.

Flames were shooting out of two first-floor windows at the front of the house and from the front door when firefighters arrived, but firefighters quickly knocked down the flames keeping the call to one-alarm. Firefighters also kept damage contained to the property, allowing residents on either side who were evacuated during the fire to return home.

Firefighters were dispatched around 5:15 a.m. and the fire was officially declared under control around 5:45 a.m.

Laubach said the fire displaced Rivera and another man and woman, whose names were not immediately available.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley is providing them with temporary lodging, food, clothing, shoes, seasonal garments and toiletry items.

Laubach said the house had extensive fire damage on the first floor and heavy smoke damage on the second floor. He estimated the damages at $50,000. The fire scorched and blackened the entire front facade of the building.

According to Lehigh County tax records, the property is owned by Kathleen M. Daboura of Whitehall Township.

N. Front Street was closed for several hours between W. Liberty and W. Allen streets after the fire was extinguished for the investigation.

Laubach said the cause of the fire has not been determined, but it does not appear to be suspicious.

-- Tracy Jordan

Copyright 2012 - The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.