Shortly before 5 p.m. June 22, after multiple calls to the Lehigh County 911 Center reporting a residential fire along Hawthorne Road in Salisbury Township, first arriving fire officer, Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Assistant Chief Williams Sames, radioed the communications center of a “fully involved working fire.”

Sames immediately called for a second alarm to supplement Western and Eastern Salisbury fire department crews.

Mutual aid crews were dispatched from Emmaus, Lower Macungie and South Whitehall Township fire stations to provide additional engines and manpower to battle the fire. Thick black smoke plumes were reported visible from across the region.

Despite a concerted effort by firefighters working in heavy turnout gear in extremely hot, humid weather conditions, the fire had such a head start that saving the structure proved impossible.

Multiple ambulance and crews from Cetronia Ambulance arrived with cold beverages and a rehab area was set up for the fire crews working in exhausting conditions.

A special air deluge vehicle from South Whitehall’s Woodlawn Station was on hand to refill firefighter’s air tanks.

Salisbury and Pennsylvania State Police units assisted at the scene. Eastern Salisbury Fire Department fire police controlled access to the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Salisbury Township Police Department office of the fire marshal.