A woman was bathing children in a West Hazleton home when she smelled smoke late Thursday night.

She took the children and ran outside, West Hazleton Fire Chief Robert Ward said. Gray smoke billowed from the white duplex.

The fire broke out in a west-facing bedroom in the house at 316 Allen St., but flames were contained to the room, Ward said. No injuries were reported by 10 p.m. 15  people  from  the  combined home units ( 316 & 318  Allen  Street  were  displaced  after the  fire.

West Hazleton Police Officer Bob Minnick, dispatched to the scene by Luzerne County 911, said when he pulled up to the home he saw flames emerging from the second floor and smoke circling the roof.

Chief  Ward  praised  firefighters for their  quick  response which helped  contain the fire damage to  the bedroom.The PA  State Police  fire  Marshall was  called into  investigate the  cause.

Assisting at the  scene were crews from  Hazle Twp. Fire  Rescue, APTS  ambulance service, West Hazleton  EMS, West Hazleton  Police Department, American  Red  Cross, PP& L Utility  crew, West Hazleton  Fire Police and the greater Hazleton Area  Fire Police.

 All Photos are courtesy of Frank Barr.