Fire crews were called to the Brodheadsville strip mall in Monroe County's Chestnuthill Township at 2:15 p.m. Thursday. About 50 firefighters from six companies responded.
Rich Beck, the assistant fire chief of Polk Township, says about a half-dozen firefighters were inside when the explosion blew out some of the walls and caused much of the building to collapse. He says they were able to get out a side door.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A pizzeria, a Chinese restaurant and a chocolate shop were destroyed.
An explosion Tuesday destroyed a home in south Allentown while two brothers were inside, but they sustained only minor injuries.
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Information from: The Morning Call, http://www.mcall.com
