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Allentown man charged with arson, attempted homicide in Cedar Street fire

allentown fire 2.jpg
Makenzie Christman
/
LehighValleyNews.com
Flames are seen shooting through the charred remnants of the rear of 721 Cedar St. in Allentown over two hours after a fire first started there Thursday, Dec. 26.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A city man is facing multiple charges, including attempted homicide, after flames ripped through homes Thursday in the 700 block of West Cedar Street.

Santos Mota-Ramirez, 60, was charged Friday with two counts of attempted homicide; two counts of aggravated assault with attempts to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference; three counts of aggravated arson with bodily injury; causing a catastrophe; and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records.

Residents were rescued by a neighbor after a fire broke out Thursday evening at 721 W. Cedar St. and spread to several connected row homes.

"The fire was chewing through the windows to the back of the house. The whole back of the house was completely engulfed in flames."
Kyle Davis, who helped his neighbors evacuate their homes Thursday

Kyle Davis told LehighValleyNews.com he rushed toward the flames after a woman ran out of the home, pleading for help to get everyone out of the house.

"The fire was chewing through the windows to the back of the house," Davis said. "The whole back of the house was completely engulfed in flames."

Three residents were taken to local hospitals, and one was in critical condition, city officials said Friday in a Facebook post that includes video from a firefighter arriving at the blaze. Four firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

The fire damaged seven structures and displaced 30 people, officials said.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk in a statement Friday credited firefighters "who put themselves in harm's way to save lives" and other first responders, while urging residents to support relief efforts organized by regional American Red Cross and United Way organizations.

"My heart goes out to the many residents displaced by last night's devastating fire on Cedar Street," he said. "While the impact is severe, I feel confident that, between the dedicated work of the Red Cross and the compassion of our neighbors who stepped up to help, these families will find the support they need."

Fire trapped woman in basement: Court docs

Police responded to the Cedar Street home around 4:25 p.m. Thursday for a reported domestic disturbance, according to court records filed against Mota-Ramirez, who lives in the home.

Officers spoke to a woman suffering from an apparent assault before finding Mota-Ramirez as he walked into the rear of the home.

A Lehigh County judge set Mota-Ramirez’s bail at $750,000 after he was arraigned Friday morning on eight felony charges.
Lehigh County court records

Those officers saw an “active fire” behind him and arrested him, but flames “quickly spread throughout the residence,” court records state.

A second woman in the home was rescued by the Allentown Fire Department after she was “trapped in the basement” by the blaze, authorities said in charging documents.

Mota-Ramirez told police he tried to fatally stab a woman at his home before “admitting to lighting the building on fire,” court documents state.

A Lehigh County district judge set Mota-Ramirez’s bail at $750,000 after he was arraigned Friday morning on eight felony charges.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3.