Crews fight large apartment building fire in South Bethlehem Friday
- Lori Lee WGOLV
- May 2
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Crews rushed to the scene of a large fire at an apartment building in South Bethlehem Friday afternoon.
Multiple area fire departments responded to Five 10 Flats in the 500 block of E. Third Street, at about 1:30 pm, and the building was quickly evacuated.
Thick black smoke was seen pouring from the building along with fire coming from the roof. Smoke was reported to be seen from miles away.
A fourth alarm was struck just before 2 p.m., and by 2:30 p.m., the fire appeared to be largely under control.
Police confirmed that the fire was out at around 4 pm, but it remains under investigation.
Many posted photos and videos on our Facebook page of What's going on in the Lehigh Valley.
The Red Cross is assisting residents displaced by the fire. A total of 135 people were displaced, according to 69 News.
No injuries were reported, according to police on the scene.
Former Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who now works with the development company that constructed the Five 10 Flats apartment complex, told 69 News they have a video of a man extinguishing a cigarette into a planter on the rooftop deck.
He says they sent the video to the Bethlehem Fire Department and they will use it as they conduct their investigation.
Callahan says they plan to make repairs and get the apartment building back to its original state as soon as possible.
Police ask that people continue to avoid the area.
Third Street remains closed between Polk and Hayes streets until further notice, and side streets in the area are also blocked off.
