Fire Destroys Three Reading, Pennsylvania Apartment Buildings, Injures One

A three-alarm fire broke out early Wednesday morning in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania, engulfing three adjoining apartment buildings on North Fifth Street and displacing roughly 35 residents. The blaze, which started after reports of a loud explosion, quickly spread through multiple floors, prompting firefighters to switch from an interior attack to a defensive one using aerial water streams. One person was hospitalized with burn injuries, and firefighters rescued a woman trapped on the fourth floor as well as one dog, though other pets remain unaccounted for. The fire caused extensive damage, with one building possibly facing condemnation, and the American Red Cross, along with Alvernia University, provided assistance and shelter to displaced residents. The Reading fire marshal and the ATF are investigating the cause of the fire and the initial explosion. Fire crews continued to monitor for hot spots as the situation came under control by early morning.