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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Row house fire kills 5 people

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – An extension cord overloaded with Christmas decorations may have sparked a fire that swept through four downtown row houses Friday, killing five people and injuring several others, officials said. The holiday decorations had been plugged into a power strip joined to an extension cord, said Allentown Fire Capt. Robert Scheirer.

He said the early morning fire was ruled accidental, though investigators were still trying to determine if the wiring failed, if a specific ornament shorted out or if something else was involved.

The three-story row home had no working smoke alarms.

Firefighters were able to get the 6:30 a.m. fire under control within about half an hour. They also rescued two adults and six children from a row house next-door.