More than 30 people across several households were displaced from their homes due to the fire

NEED TO KNOW

• Two juveniles are accused of setting a major fire that destroyed several homes
• Police in Allentown, Pa., said the six-alarm structure fire began in a former furniture factory at around 8:40 p.m. local time on June 24
• The juveniles have been charged with arson and causing a catastrophe after more than 30 people across several households were displaced from their homes

Two juveniles are accused of setting a major fire that destroyed several properties and forced residents to evacuate.

Police in Allentown, Pa., said the six-alarm structure fire began at around 8:40 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 24, in a former furniture factory located on the 300 block of the city's North Front Street.

"When we arrived, the flames were already through the roof and out through every single window," Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto said at a press conference on Friday, June 26.

Officials said the fire jumped to several homes located across the street from the factory building. Some residents were forced to evacuate through their homes' back doors to escape the blaze, NBC Philadelphia reported, and other residents were told to shelter in place, per WGAL.

More than 100 firefighters from several departments worked to fight the blaze overnight, and many had to retreat from the former factory to avoid collapses.

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More than 1,600 people were without power after PPL Electric Utilities shut off power in the area during the blaze, CBS Philadelphia reported.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries in the incident and is expected to recover, the outlet reported.

Thirty adults and six children across several households were still displaced on Friday, and the Red Cross is now assisting them, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said at Friday's press conference.

"It was so crazy that they started telling people to back up, and then it started getting worse," local resident Damian Velez told CBS Philadelphia, recounting the night of the blaze.

According to Velez, he and his family could see the fire from their house and spotted ash falling from the sky.

"The smoke was so bad that we had to stay somewhere else," he said. "It was hard being without power, because you have to charge your phone and charge other things to call people."

By Friday, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office had announced that two juveniles were arrested and charged with arson, causing a catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person and conspiracy.

"Both juveniles will not be named nor will their ages be provided," officials said in a statement. "Due to the age and circumstances of the offense, these charges must proceed through the juvenile system."

The investigation into the fire is still ongoing. Authorities did not provide details about how or why the two juveniles allegedly started the blaze.

City officials have encouraged displaced residents to reach out to the Red Cross or the Allentown fire marshal's office for assistance.

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