Allentown- On July 28th at 11:20 a.m. as firefighters were responding to the house fire at 421 1/2 N. 16 St., they could see a column of heavy black smoke rising over west Allentown. Command en route immediately requested a second alarm. Heavy fire was found in the rear of five two story M/O/R/ dwellings with eventually two being destroyed and three being damaged. Five families were affected by this blaze and unfortunately two pets perished. The Red Cross was contacted to help the victims and the fire was under control in about forty minutes.