Firefighters from the City of Reading and several County fire companies responded to the 300 block of South 6th Street Friday around 7:45pm for a fire that broke out in a vacant row home.
Arriving on-scene, crews found heavy fire from the front of the first floor of the two and a half story building. Fire was eventually found on all floors and in the attic space of the adjoining buildings.
Freezing temperatures posed a challenge for crews as they attempted to extinguish the fire. Temperatures were as low as 5 degrees with wind chills near 15 below zero. At one point, it was reported crews dealt with a freezing hydrant.
Mayor Eddie Moran took to Facebook Live from the scene to thank firefighters for braving the cold weather. In his live video, Moran said he was thankful no one was injured in the fire. He also mentioned that two displaced families will be given temporary housing.
Crews were still on-scene as of midnight. The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause.
