Six-alarm Allentown fire forces evacuations, knocks out power to thousands

A six-alarm fire tore through an old commercial building near Allentown’s riverfront around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, forcing nearby residents out of their homes and leaving thousands without power. Lehigh County Dispatch escalated the blaze as crews rushed to contain flames that had spread beyond the original building.

Residents in the 300 block of Front Street were told to leave their properties through their backyards, and police directed people in the surrounding area to shelter in place. The fire also spread to nearby homes, adding to the urgency for neighbors living closest to the riverfront building.

WFMZ reported that the fire knocked out power to thousands of residents as utility disruption spread across the area. The building, described in local reporting as a former industrial site, sits in a dense part of the city where older structures are close to homes and streets, increasing the reach of a fast-moving fire.

No injuries had been reported in the latest verified updates, and officials had not yet announced a cause. Fire crews remained on scene late Wednesday as the response grew and investigators began working to determine how the blaze started in the old commercial building. The fire marked another major structural emergency for Allentown, where large fires in older buildings have repeatedly tested local responders this year.