Published February 27. 2025 10:48AM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
An electrical fire in an MRI unit at Allentown Diagnostic Center, 7450 W. Tilghman St., Upper Macungie, prompted a commercial structure fire dispatch on Feb. 20.
Departments dispatched included Upper Macungie Station 56, Fogelsville and Trexlertown, and apparatus from Weisenberg Township, Lower Macungie, Cetronia, Greenawalds, Tri-Clover and the Cetronia Ambulance Corps.
Upper Macungie Township police were also called to the scene.
A patient was being scanned when smoke began to emit from the unit, prompting an immediate evacuation from the facility and a call to the Lehigh County 911 Center to report the fire.
Firefighters determined the cause of the smoky condition was an electrical unit inside the MRI.
MRIs use powerful magnets to create detailed images of the internal structures of patients but can also be problematic for anyone entering the MRI suite with any metal products in or on there clothing.
Because of this, only two fire investigators entered the room after first removing their turnout gear and any metallic products in their pockets.
Fire Chief Matt Sadrovitz, Upper Macungie Station 56, and Jamie Keenhold, Upper Macungie Fire Safety Inspector, checked the room and determined the MRI unit was the cause of the smoke.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELANDCetronia Fire Tower 3 was deployed to the roof at 7450 W. Tilghman St., Upper Macungie, on Feb. 20 to investigate a smoky condition. The cause was determined to be an electrical fire inside the MRI at Allentown Diagnostic Center.
Trexlertown Fire Company Unit 25 was dispatched to Allentown Diagnostic Center to investigate smoke.
Staff and patients exited the Allentown Diagnostic Center, 7450 W. Tilghman St., Upper Macungie, due to an electrical fire inside the MRI unit.
Upper Macungie Station 56 Fire Chief Matt Sadrovitz and Upper Macungie Fire Safety Inspector Jamie Keenhold move ceiling tiles to determine the source of smoke in the MRI room at Allentown Diagnostic Center, on Feb. 20.
