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A large fire broke out on Thursday (March 27) evening in Reading, Pennsylvania, damaging several homes on Perkiomen Avenue. The fire, which began at 6:18 p.m., quickly spread to neighboring residences, prompting a swift response from firefighters. According to WFMZ-TV, the fire engulfed the first floor of 1386 Perkiomen Avenue and extended to the adjacent property at 1384.
Reading Fire Chief James Stoudt Jr. stated that the crews arrived within two minutes and made an aggressive attack, finding no victims inside. However, hoarding conditions in the initial fire building complicated the firefighting efforts. The fire was reported under control shortly after 7 p.m., but operations continued to manage the smoldering remains.
The blaze affected three homes, with two suffering fire damage and a third sustaining smoke damage. One firefighter was injured and transported to Reading Hospital for non-life-threatening treatment, as reported by Yahoo News. Neighbors expressed relief that no residents were inside at the time, and some even provided masks and water to assist the community.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and authorities are working to determine what sparked the blaze. The Reading Eagle reported that melted electrical meters and exposed wires were found in one of the buildings, adding to the complexity of the situation.