By JIM MARSH

Special to The Press

A working house fire and a reported inside hazard, requiring an Allentown Fire Department bomb squad sweep in the 2900 block of Meadowbrook Circle North kept Salisbury and neighboring mutual aid fire companies busy around 4:30 p.m. Jan. 3.

The volunteers were still there well into the evening hours

A Salisbury Township police officer patrolling the area, and neighbors reported flames coming from the basement area of the home, prompting the dispatch of units from Western and Eastern Salisbury fire departments.

The patrol officer used a portable extinguisher to attempt to keep flames in the kitchen area from spreading, but the home was “completely charged with smoke,” preventing entry until firefighters with air tanks arrived and began inside fire suppression.

Western Salisbury Chief Joshua Wells was the first fire officer on scene and reported a “working fire” to the Lehigh County 911 Center.

This initiated mutual aid responses from Emmaus, Lower Macungie and South Whitehall fire stations.

Wells was joined moments later by Eastern Salisbury Fire Chief Ian Dodson and the chiefs set up an incident command to direct responding firefighters.

The fire was extinguished quickly.

A home occupant advised fireworks and black powder may be inside the home along with other chemicals.

Salisbury police requested a response from the Allentown Bomb Squad.

They checked the interior of the home to assure there was no threat to first responders or neighboring homes.

Once the home was declared safe, officers from the Salisbury Township Fire Marshal’s Office started their investigation to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

The American Red Cross provided assistance and fire police controlled access to the neighborhood.