A fast-moving fire June 30 swept across six Hokendauqua townhouses, causing damage estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars - but, thankfully, there were no injuries to residents or firefighters, according to Acting Fire Chief Joe Shambo.

“The call came in at 6:55 p.m. June 30,” Shambo said of the fire in the 3300 block of South Second Street.

Dispatched immediately were fire trucks and personnel from the township’s five stations, Hokendauqua, Cementon, Egypt, Fullerton and West Catasauqua. Also summoned were Greenawalds, Catasauqua and Woodlawn fire companies.

“We had the fire under control in two [to] two-and-a-half hours,” Shambo said, adding there were as many as 100 firefighters on the scene.

The fire is believed to have started at the rear of the 3323 S. Second St. residence. The flames then spread to homes at 3319, 3321, 3325, 3327 and 3329 S. Second St., north and south of where the fire broke out.

As the flames spread across the roofs, dense black smoke swirled upward toward a blue sky.

Firefighters remained on the scene long after the fire was quelled, putting out hot spots. They boarded up the windows of the two-story brick and siding dwellings. Yet, the charred wood roof beams still showed the devastation that had taken place.

The following morning, July 1, two Whitehall fire trucks remained on the scene, along with a Catasauqua Fire Department aerial fire truck.

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal and Shambo were at the fire scene Friday as the investigation to its origin and cause began.

“We have just started the investigation and do not know its cause,” Shambo said.

One woman was too overcome to talk about a cat and dog at her residence that succumbed in the fire.

Tracy Genovese, of 3319 S. Second St., received a call at Walter’s Pharmacy, Allentown, where she is employed as a manager, that a fire had broken out in the row of townhouses, where she has resided for the last 20 years.

As Genovese approached the neighborhood, she said, “I saw my house was on fire.”

Genovese was especially concerned about her dog Grayson, a Great Dane.

Paula DiCinque, who resides across the street from Genovese, knocked on doors to tell the residents to evacuate. At the Genovese residence, DiCinque found no one was home except for Grayson, who was lying at the front door. She said she took the dog to her house without incident.

Upon seeing Grayson, Genovese said she “fell to [her] knees” in joy and relief.

Genovese said the residents of her neighborhood are “wonderful.”

She added that one couple just moved into the neighborhood a week ago and is now without their home.

Although Grayson may have to be boarded elsewhere temporarily, Genovese is thankful she can move into her mother’s house nearby.

Shadimon Navarro, a resident in that neighborhood, said when she went outside and saw smoke, she yelled inside to her mother, Alicia Knauff, to call 911.

After calling 911, Knauff, an assistant principal at Whitehall High School, also “began knocking on doors” to tell residents to evacuate their homes.

The Knauff residence was not one of the homes that caught fire, but another residence owned by the family was a casualty.

There were no reports of any structures that needed to be demolished.

Bible Fellowship Church, Hokendauqua, has made a donation to the residents who were displaced.

First Presbyterian Church, Hokendauqua, will collect money for the families at services there on Sunday.

For a list of fundrasers to benefit the families, see the story at right.