At 17:22 Lehigh County received a report of an odor of smoke inside the Perkins Restaurant at 1450 MacArthur Road and sent Stations 36, 37 and Squirt 3 (3831).

Chief 16 (Benner) arrives and reports fire showing from a 1-story restaurant and special-calls station 39. Assistant Chief Monahan adds Catasauqua Ladder 231 to the special-call. Command finds heavy fire in the roof area of the building.

Engine 1 arrives and stretches a hand line into operation. The second due engine, Engine 2 brings a water supply line in from a hydrant on MacArthur Road in front of the Best Buy store.

Squirt 3 positions in front of the building and goes into service with their elevated master stream.

With the fire rapidly extending, command strikes the 2nd alarm. Lehigh County Fire Radio transmits the 2nd alarm at 17:34 sending Whitehall Engine 14, Rescue 5 for the R.I.T., Han-Le-Co Ladder 33 and Air unit 3292.

Engine 11 brings water from a hydrant on Estates Drive and positions on the south side of the building. Ladder 231 positions on the west side of the building and crews go to the roof to ventilate but the roof was compromised so they were ordered off the roof.

The bulk of the fire was darkened down by 18:00 hours and crews remained on the scene overhauling for the next couple of hours. All companies cleared the scene by 20:50.

One firefighter was injured and transported to L.V.H.C. with a minor injury.

Cetronia EMS provided numerous ambulances at the scene.