3-9-08 BETHLAHAM 1215 Mechanic St.- 4x Fatal Dwelling 4th Alarm
A 4 alarm fire which gutted 3 houses took the lives of 4 children in Bethleham Pa. Firefighters were called to 1217 Mechanic Street for a reported dwelling fire shortly after 4:30 am., after receiving a call from the neighbor who stated there was a house on fire with people trapped. The neighbor stated she heard the woman screaming that her kids were inside. Companies arrived to find a 2 story, ordinary constructed dwelling with heavy fire conditions. EMS reported a child who jumped from the 2nd floor laying on the front sidewalk in serious condition. Companies entered the dwelling but were unable to make the 2nd floor due to the stair case collapsing. Multiple alarms were struck which brought approx 60 firefighters to the scene to battle the fire which had spread to 3 houses. Command reported the fire to have spread from the common cock loft to each side of the dwelling. A total of 4 children from the dwelling were pronounced dead. Three firefighters and one medic were injured with non life threatening injuries. The State Fire Marshals Office and the Bethleham Police Department have the fire under investigation.
