An Allentown, Pennsylvania man, Santos Mota-Ramirez, age 60, is facing charges after reportedly setting a destructive blaze that rapidly spread through seven rowhomes, consequently displacing 30 residents. According to CBS News Philadelphia, the fire erupted around 4:30 p.m. last Thursday and necessitated a response from all on-duty Allentown firefighters, later requiring support from neighboring fire departments.
The fire led to the hospitalization of seven individuals, amongst them three civilians and four firefighters, with one civilian being critically injured. 6ABC reported that firefighters heroically managed to rescue a person who was trapped in a basement, having to be pulled out through a small window. This individual was later taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Mota-Ramirez has been charged with two counts of attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and three counts of aggravated arson, among others, as per NBC10 Philadelphia. The charges stem from an incident where Mota-Ramirez initially attempted to stab a woman before setting the property ablaze. This accusation was based on his own admission to the authorities.
The devastation of the fire resulted in substantial displacement, with the American Red Cross stepping in to support the affected residents. The exact causation behind the fire is still under an active investigation. The spread of the fire was exacerbated by the architecture of the rowhomes which allows "the fire and smoke to penetrate and grow and spread throughout the structures quickly," Allentown Fire Lt. Dennis Walton told 6ABC. Mota-Ramirez is currently held on a $750,000 bail, and additional charges have not been ruled out by the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.
