The Allentown warehouse fire that erupted Wednesday night left a trail of destruction in its wake, injuring one firefighter, displacing seven families, and forcing more than 100 firefighters to battle the blaze late into the evening. By Thursday morning, crews were still pouring water on smoldering hot spots even as the fire was brought under control.

A Long Night for Firefighters

As the sun rose over Allentown on Thursday, the work was far from over. Firefighters remained on the 300 block of Front Street, dousing hot spots after wrestling the massive fire under control overnight. The structure at the heart of it all was a long-vacant warehouse that suddenly erupted in flames late Wednesday.

The scale of the response was significant. Officials said the blaze grew into a six-alarm fire, with crews mounting what they described as an aggressive attack against the flames. The intense heat eventually caused the building to collapse.

How It Started and Spread

According to officials, the fire broke out in a vacant furniture factory at around 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday. From there, it didn’t stay contained. The flames spread to nearby homes, ultimately displacing seven families.

Overnight evacuations were necessary as the fire grew, and the surrounding neighborhood felt the impact in more ways than one.

One Firefighter Injured

Among those responding to the dangerous scene, one firefighter was hurt during the effort. In a morning update, officials offered reassuring news, saying the individual is expected to make a full recovery.

Widespread Power Outages

The fire knocked out electricity across a large part of the area. At the height of the incident, roughly 3,500 homes lost power.

By about 7 a.m. Thursday, the situation had improved but wasn’t fully resolved. According to PPL, around 950 homes in the area of the fire remained without power as crews continued their work.

What’s Next

While the fire is now considered under control, the damage is substantial. The vacant structure, which had been slated for redevelopment, sustained major damage in the blaze.

The cause remains unknown for now. The Allentown Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an active investigation to determine what sparked the fire.

For the seven displaced families, the road ahead involves recovery and rebuilding. As investigators piece together what happened, the community is left to take stock of a destructive night that could have been far worse without the rapid response of more than 100 firefighters who held the line through the early morning hours.