No injuries, 12 displaced in Hazleton fire
HAZLETON – Twelve people are being assisted by the American Red Cross after a fire in this Luzerne County city Wednesday night.
Firefighters were called to 583 North Peace Street for a reported structure fire around 9:30pm.
Hazleton Fire Chief Donald Leshko told the Sentinel at the scene that when firefighters arrived, flames were venting from two windows of a first floor apartment, threatening a building next door.
“Crews immediately made a quick knockdown of the fire,” Leshko said. “The second structure, 585, sustained some exterior damage, but the fire was stopped there.”
Leshko said the bulk of the fire damage was contained to a kitchen area and the second floor of 583.
He described the fire as “stubborn,” as it spread between double walls.
“It’s all balloon frame so it just travelled the walls,” Leshko said. “Firefighters did an excellent job of containing it, stopping it, and especially stopping it from extending to the second structure.”
No injuries were reported, Leshko said, but 12 people are displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
He said the fire appears to be accidental.