Shortly before 2:30PM Allentown Fire Radio transmitted partial box 2267 (9th & Allen) for 545 North Fountain Street for an outside fire (Grill) sending Engine 9. Directly after that transmission, box 2267 was filled out for a report of a house fire at 539 North Fountain Streets sending Engines 4, 6, 10 (F.A.S.T.), Truck 2 and Battalion 43.
Engine 9 arrived and reported heavy smoke and fire in the rear and stretched a leader line down the alley. Immediately after that transmission, the fire dispatcher reported entrapment per police. Engine 4 was bringing in a water supply from 10th and Allen. Chief 43 struck out the second alarm due to the people entrapped.
Second alarm box 2267 was transmitted sending in Engines 13, 14, Truck 1, Chief 40 and Air 1. As crews were getting ready for the search and rescue, reports came in that everyone was out of the building. The original fire building eventually had fire on all floors of the 2-1/2 story middle-of-row.
Engine 9 had fire now in two homes. As the fire extended south via the cockloft, Chief 43 struck out the 3rd alarm bringing in the last engine, Engine 11.
