Allentown- On December 26 at around 16:30 hrs, the AFD was dispatched to a dwelling fire at 721 Cedar St. Engine 6 was first due and reported a working fire at that location. A warning had been previously issued by the APD to use caution at this address as they had just dealt with a domestic disturbance. A female occupant had just been assaulted and nearly stabbed by a sixty year old male perpetrator, who also lived at this address. He then set fire to the rear kitchen as the police were arriving. He was quickly apprehended and the female was cared for. The fire quickly spread and cries for help were heard coming from another female who was trapped in the basement. The AFD was notified and the woman was able to be rescued via a small rear basement window. She suffered from burns and smoke inhalation. The three story dwelling fire would eventually affect six other dwellings with a second alarm being sounded at 16:35 hrs and a third alarm at 16:49 hrs. During the early part of the fire, there was a problem with the power company being a delayed response to the fire scene. In the rear of a dwelling there was a wire arcing when water hit it. The power was eventually shut down so that a more agressive fire operation could continue. The weather was cold and icing occurred in some spots. The fire was under control around 19:00 hrs with remaining units leaving the scene around 22:25 hrs. Taken to the hospital were one resident in critical condition, two other residents, plus four firefighters with minor injuries. Thirty people were displaced by the fire some of which were sheltered on scene by a LANTA bus. Also on scene assisting AFD were units from Whitehall and S. Whitehall fire departments. The sixty year old male perpetrator was charged with: attempted homicide, aggravated assault, arson, causing a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.