An east Allentown home was badly damaged and a family of six displaced Sunday afternoon by a fire that injured a firefighter when a burning ceiling collapsed, officials said.
“There was heavy fire on the second floor, and the fire did spread,” fire Capt. John Christopher said. “At one point we pulled away and went into a more defensive attack because things were getting unstable inside.”
The fire was reported 2:30 p.m. at 1916 E. Jonathan St., just south of the Route 22 interchange with Airport Road. Firefighters took about 90 minutes to bring the fire under control.
Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
The residents, two adults and four children, were home when the fire broke out, Christopher said. All of them evacuated and are fine, he said. They have found temporary lodging with relatives.
Five fire engines rushed to the two-alarm fire.
As the fire raged on the second floor, it moved up to the roof and downward to the first-floor ceiling. Flames crawled up the main roof, and the roof collapsed at the rear of the house.
“One firefighter suffered minor injuries,” Christopher said. “The ceiling collapsed on him. He didn’t go to the hospital. He was treated on the scene. He was sore and bruised, but fine.”
The fire marshal was investigating the cause of the fire, he said.
Firefighters remained at the scene for hours, cleaning up and putting out hot spots in the walls, ceilings and dormers.
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