Police investigate rash of fires in Lehigh Valley
Fire damaged a barn on Cherryville Road in Allen Township early Friday. SCOTT M. NAGY PHOTO
Above, fire damaged a barn on Cherryville Road in Allen Township early on Friday.
At left, fire also hit the Seemsville Hotel on Wednesday. SCOTT M. NAGY PHOTOS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
A rash of recent fires in the Lehigh Valley — including one early Friday morning — are under investigation by a state fire marshal.
That fire, a fully-involved barn fire at 4413 Cherryville Road, Allen Township, came on the heels of several other barn fires, including two in Lehigh Township.
In Lehigh Township, a barn fire broke out on March 15 along Cedar Drive. The second was March 23 along Fir Drive.
Lehigh Township Police posted on their Facebook page that they are investigating the suspicious barn fire that occurred on Fir Drive between the hours of 1-2 a.m.
Police said if anyone has surveillance footage from their home cameras or witnessed anyone in the area, to contact Detective Matthew Enstrom at 610-760-8800.
Contacted this afternoon, Lehigh Township fire Chief Rick Hildebrand said neither of those fires resulted in any injuries.
However, Hildebrand said the barn fire on Fir Drive resulted in the loss of some livestock.
Both barns in Lehigh Township were total losses, he said, adding that they are being investigated by the township’s fire marshal and a state fire marshal.
Firefighters also responded at 10:13 a.m. Wednesday to a working structure fire at the Seemsville Hotel, 3819 Seemsville Road.
A GoFundMe account, https://www.gofundme.com/relief-fund-for-kelly-ettl, has been set up for the Seemsville Pub fire, where an employee lived in the top floor and lost everything.
To date, $4,227 of the $5,000 goal has been raised.
Around 10:51 p.m. March 24, Laurys Station, Neffs, Lehigh Township, Whitehall-Egypt Station, Schnecksville, Tri-Clover and Allen Township volunteer firefighters were dispatched for a barn fire at 1352 Clearview Road, North Whitehall Township.
Laurys Station Fire Chief Robin Hood said the fire was called under control at 11:21 p.m.
North Whitehall Fire Marshal Jim Steward and State Police Fire Marshal Trooper James Welsh are investigating the fire. Northern Valley Ambulance Corps and Macungie rehabilitation emergency medical services assisted at the scene.
