By Kurt Bresswein
The Express-Times
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — One resident was hospitalized in critical condition and four firefighters were hurt the day after Christmas in an Allentown fire that investigators are labeling arson.
The Allentown Fire Department responded about 4:30 p.m. Thursday to the report of a structure fire in the city’s 700 block of Cedar Street, just off North Seventh Street ( Route 145 ).
Crews found a row home engulfed in flames and learned someone was trapped in the basement, according to a news release from fire officials.
“Firefighters made their way to the rear of the structure and successfully rescued one female through a basement window,” officials wrote.
Incident commanders elevated the fire to a third alarm within minutes, bringing all on-duty firefighters to the scene.
The blaze was declared under control at about 7 p.m., and firefighters remained there until 10:45 p.m.
“Three civilians were taken to the hospital, one in critical condition,” the release states. “Additionally, four firefighters were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.”
“Seven structures were affected, and the fire displaced 30 people,” the release added.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, according to the release.
However, court records say a resident where the fire started “admitted to lighting the building on fire.”
Santos Mota-Ramirez, 50, was arraigned Friday morning on eight felony counts, including attempted homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated arson and causing a catastrophe, in addition to misdemeanor reckless endangerment. He was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 3 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. He is being represented by a public defender.
Allentown police wrote in the court records that officers were called shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday for a reported domestic disturbance and found a woman with redness visible on her face and neck. Mota-Ramirez had assaulted the woman and tried to stab her with a knife, later telling investigators he was trying to kill her, investigators allege.
Police looking for Mota-Ramirez at the scene found him “entering the kitchen from the rear of the residence and behind him an active fire could be seen,” the records say.
Allentown firefighters were assisted by the Whitehall, Woodlawn and Greenawalds fire departments, as well as Allentown EMS, Allentown police, the Allentown Streets Department and the American Red Cross .
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