Two people were hospitalized after a massive fire tore through rowhomes in Reading, sending thick smoke over a Reading neighborhood and leaving at least six homes without power.
The fire broke out along North 10th Street near Edgewater Road, prompting a large emergency response as smoke billowed into the sky and could be seen from several blocks away.
By the time SkyForce10 flew over the neighborhood around 7 p.m., the flames appeared to be under control.
The Reading Fire Department confirmed that two people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Their conditions were not immediately known.
Twenty-eight adults and four children were displaced due to the fire, and the American Red Cross was assisting them with shelter.
At least six homes were also left without power following the fire, according to the fire department.
As emergency crews responded to the scene, families in the neighborhood were left dealing with the damage and uncertainty.
Antony Payano, a family member of someone whose home was affected, described seeing smoke spreading across several blocks.
“I’ve seen the smoke went three, four, five blocks down, you can see it from a long distance, so it really did a lot of damage. These people can’t get no help, it’s hard,” Payano said.
The extent of the damage to the affected rowhomes was not immediately clear.
Investigators are working to determine what sparked the fire.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
