Fatal Fire on Fifth Street in Emmaus

The Lehigh County coroner was called Sunday afternoon to the scene of a fire at 36 S. Fifth St. in Emmaus—just around the corner from the borough's police department. Neighbors say they believe a woman died in the blaze.

The fire started shortly before noon at a double house that was divided into five apartments.

Firefighters tried to save the victim but couldn't get past intense flames, according to a WFMZ report.

A woman who lives across the street said her daughter heard a "boom," which may have come when windows blew out of the burning building. The sidewalk across the street was covered with broken glass.

Fire crews continued to vent the roof and wet down the house hours after the blaze started.

Michael Marks, who lives on Second Street, watched from the parking lot of Volpe's Sports Bar as firefighters escorted a deputy coroner around the back of the building. A state police fire marshal was also on the scene.

Marks said he saw flames shooting from the windows and roof when he first got there. He found out about the fire from two friends—volunteer firefighters—who sent him a text message on their way to the call.

The American Red Cross Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter is assisting a family and a couple displaced by the fire. The Red Cross provided food and clothing to an  adult and two children; the couple received assistance for food, clothing and shoes.

Lehigh County property records online show that the building is owned by Michael F. and Loretta A. Boyko of Macungie.

Responders included firefighters from Emmaus, Upper Milford/Vera Cruz, Western Salisbury and Lower Macungie, as well as ambulance crews from Emmaus and Cetronia.