Fountain Hill residents heard 'thunk' as porches collapsed this afternoon – UPDATE

He assumed snow and ice had tumbled off the roof of his 738 Seneca St. home. That's been a common occurrence this winter, Sabol said, as snowstorm after snowstorm has pummeled the Lehigh Valley.

When he looked out the front window, however, Sabol realized that more than snow and ice had fallen onto the sidewalk. The porches of his row home and three adjacent residences -- 740, 742 and 744 -- had collapsed.

Sabol said the collapse occurred about 2:55 p.m. He called borough authorities before exiting the rear of his home.

"We're moving in a month or so, thank God," said 29-year-old Sabol, who lives in the home with a roommate.

Fountain Hill Fire Department Assistant Chief David Boehrer said no one was hurt in the collapse, which prompted an evacuation. An additional eight homes, four on either side of those directly affected by the collapse, were evacuated, as well, he said.

The evacuations were a precaution, Boehrer said. Borough firefighters, along with Eastern Salisbury firefighters and members of a Lehigh County special operations team, are evaluating the row homes to make sure they are structurally sound and safe for residents, he said.

Everyone who lives in homes directly affected by the collapse is accounted for and a preliminary search of rubble on the sidewalk confirmed that no pedestrians were trapped, Boehrer said. Residents forced to leave their homes were directed to nearby Fountain Hill Elementary School, where a temporary shelter was set up, he said.

Early on, at least, no one had opted to go to the shelter, he said. At 4:30 p.m., Boehrer said he was unsure when or whether residents would be allowed to go home.

This is Sabol's first winter on Seneca Street, but neighbor Mike Ferry has lived in the neighborhood for five years and can't recall any similar incidents. He noted, though, that this is the snowiest winter since he moved to the block.

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Fountain Hill residents heard 'thunk' as porches collapsed this afternoon - UPDATE