TAMAQUA — Careless smoking sparked a fire that drove seven people from their apartment house at 210 Washington St. in Tamaqua late Wednesday night.
Fire was blowing out the roof when firefighters arrived a few minutes before midnight, Tamaqua Fire Chief Thomas Hartz said.
Volunteers from Tamaqua and Coaldale took about two hours to control the fire and another two hours to extinguish hot spots in recesses of the 2 1/2-story building.
One firefighter required treatment in an ambulance for heat exhaustion and dehydration.
The residents all exited the building safely, although Hartz said firefighters quickly checked the building when they arrived because of reports that someone might have been trapped, but they found no one inside.
Loa EsquilinGarcia of the American Red Cross said the agency obtained lodging in a motel for one family and the other three families stayed with friends or relatives after talking with a team from the Red Cross at the scene.
“We provide clothing and food for the families and make sure they have their basic needs covered,” EsquilinGarcia said.
The second and third floors of the home sustained the heaviest damage, while the other half of the building at 212 Washington St. received smoke and water damage, Tamaqua Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said.
Steigerwalt said the borough’s code officers would check the building, which might be repairable.
Hartz said the first floor at the 210 side sustained water and smoke damage but should be ready to re-occupy before the upstairs.
The two halves of the buildings have separate owners, and the 212 side was vacant.