02.09.11 - 3rd Alarm Explosion, Allentown, PA

Allentown, PA - Just before 23:00 hours, Allentown transmitted box 2562 for a gas explosion with fire and entrapment at 13th and Allen Streets. Engines 4, 9, 10, Truck 1 and BN2 (Lanshe) respond. Lehigh County was getting multiple calls for a gas explosion from residents in Whitehall Township. The blast could be felt throughout Northern Lehigh and Northampton County.

Crews arrive to find a ball of fire at the intersection with multiple high power lines down and fire coming from the street. 544 & 542 N. 13th Street 2 were totally leveled. BN2 transmits the second alarm immediately. Deck guns and tower ladders were placed into service. Engines 6, 13, 11, air 1 and cars 40, 41, 46, 48 respond on the 2nd.

With heavy fire and rapid extension of the fire into the bravo exposures, a third alarm was transmitted. Engines 14 and Truck 2 were brought in. Two tower ladders and two squrts are operating along with numerous large handlines and deck guns.

UGI worked for several hours trying to secure the gas leak. Fire was seen venting from the street several hours into the call.

Because of the freezing temperatures, Two volunteer companies were called into the scene. Whitehall Engine 2 and Wescosville Squirt 30.

A full Platoon was called in to man additional city engines. Engine 5 and 8 were special-called to the scene as well. The fire is equivalent to a 4 alarm fire.

Fire consumed all 8 homes in the row, 530 to 544 N. 13th Street. The fire burned well into the morning. Over 600 people were evacuated and relocated to Ag Hall at the Allentown Fair Grounds. Gross Towers, a 12-story elderly complex was evacuated as a precaution. A level 3 MCI was established for the evacuation of this building.

At the press conference, 6 people were not accounted for. Firefighters are still on the scene late Thursday morning

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• afd
• allentown
• explosion
• allen
• newsworking
• dwelling
• house
• UGI
• natural
• gas
• leak
• emt
• ems
• emergency
• 3rd
• alarm
• third
• lehigh
• county
• pennsylvania

[firefighterb232]

Why didn't they ladder the roof of the exposures, cut a trench cut and stop the progression if the fire. It look like the master streams weren't doing much to stop the fire in the cock loft. They should of done alot of things I'm sure but I wasn't there and all what I can see is what's on the video. Great video thanks for sharing.

[johnnykATL]

Who else was rootin' for Flores?....I was

[bearwoodbrown]

Great work !! Best Radio Traffic Ive heard !! I

[Anglynn74]

Look up Edison Pipeline Explosion on youtube, I lived through that & it was ten times as bad as this fire.

[BODblueman123]

I was driving on that road while it happend and it tottaled our car, it was soo scary, all I remember is driving then looking over and seeing flames all around

[317jlg]

what is the definition of Level 3 MCI?

[PADutchman]

Five years ago we had a bad gas leak on our street, they worked several days to get it right.

One of the crew told me that the Gas Pipes in Allentown are in bad shape. The pipes are decades old and were never made to the quality of todays pipes.

Since that time we have had the explosion on the South Side, another off Lehigh Street and this one at least.

Both the water pipes and gas pipes are some of the original pipes laid years and years ago.

[sharppointy1]

Looks like excellent fire fighting in a very difficult situation.

[RustyRazor2010]

Nasty! Hope all crews are well.

[XxExperTeazeXx]

i was working at that site all day today shit was no joke