Man arrested, charged after fire spreads through 6 homes in Allentown, injures 7

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A man has been arrested and faces charges of attempted murder and arson after a fire spread to several homes in Allentown.

Santos Mota-Ramirez, 60, was charged with attempted criminal murder, aggravated assault, aggravated arson, among other charges, officials said.

Firefighters were called to the fire around 4:30 Thursday afternoon in the 700 block of Cedar Street.

When they arrived, they battled flames that quickly spread to nearby homes on the compact street.

Crews were also alerted that someone was trapped in the basement and were able to rescue a woman from a basement window.

The fire was burning so intensely and spreading so quickly, crews called a third alarm, calling for additional help to fight the blaze.

The fire was brought under control at around 7pm and fire crews were at the scene until almost 11pm

Three people were hospitalized, and one of them is in critical condition. Additionally, four firefighters were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

At least six homes were damaged and 30 people were displaced, according to authorities.

Mota-Ramirez is in custody and has been sent to court. His preliminary hearing is January 3, 2025.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crime and Public SafetyLehigh CountyNews