Over 100 residents displaced after 4-alarm fire at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania apartment complex
Fire crews were on the scene of a four-alarm fire that broke out on the roof of a luxury apartment complex in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Friday afternoon.
The blaze began around 1:15 p.m. at the Five 10 Flats apartment complex on East 3rd Street. Fire officials said the complex, which is located in the South Side Historic District of Bethlehem, has 95 units, and no injuries were reported. The fire spread quickly due to the winds in the area on Friday, officials said.
County officials said a number of residents were displaced because of the fire. The Five 10 Flats team made hotel arrangements for all 135 residents and the LANTA bus company helped transport residents to those rooms, according to the Bethlehem Fire Department.
The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania set up a temporary shelter at Northampton County Community College for anyone impacted by the fire and in need – but the shelter was no longer needed by around 8:30 p.m.
Many of the residents said they only have whatever they walked out of their apartments with. Some were still in their pajamas from Friday morning.
"We were at home in our apartment, we live on the third floor, and the fire alarm started going off, and we walked outside. We're like, "Oh, it's probably a drill,' wasn't a drill. It was smoking, and we saw the fire on the roof there," said Faith Collina.
"I'm graduating from college tomorrow, and my cap and gown is in there, so," said Talia Collina, a student at Moravian University.
Chopper 3 was over the scene, as firefighters battled the blaze on the complex's roof.
The Bethlehem Fire Department says the apartment building will remain closed while repairs are made.
3rd Street is a busy area filled with restaurants, shops, a casino and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks is also nearby. The cause of the fire is still under investigation with the Fire Marshal's office expected to provide an update next week.
