A four-alarm blaze damaged five homes in the 100 block of North West Street in York Wednesday night, according to York City Fire/Rescue Services Acting Chief David Michaels.
Four of the homes had fire damage, the fifth had heat damage, he added.
The fire started in a home around 9:55 p.m. and by the time firefighters arrived it had already spread. It quickly jumped to a three alarm, and later to the fourth. Michaels said he believes the home where the fire began was vacant.
Michaels said there were no reports of injuries to civilians, but that there might be a few minor injuries to firefighters.
As of early Thursday morning, the cause of the fire was unknown.
"The big challenge tonight was the heat," Michaels said.
The fire also started around the same time several firework displays in York had wrapped up, so traffic in the area was a mess.
Tracey Adams, 44, lives next door to the first home that caught fire. She said she went to bed around 9:30 p.m. and heard a smoke alarm going off later.
Adams said she looked out the window, saw smoke and "ran out of the house."
"When I got to the sidewalk, all I saw was fire," she said. She was barefoot and in her pajamas, and a friend let her borrow some sandals.
The fire has spread
to her home, and crews had to break windows.
"I'm thankful that we all made it out safe," she said.
The Red Cross is assisting the people who were displaced.
York County REACT said there were 10 fire companies fighting the blaze.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
