EASTON, PA - Firefighters were summoned on February 20th to a five-story, century-old Hotel Hampton, located at 462 Northampton St. To the rear of this hotel (now a rooming house with long term residents) were four and three-story add-ons extending back to Pine St. 

Crews were dispatched to the hotel for a possible electrical fire in the basement at around 10:45 a.m. There they found an active basement fire rapidly spreading throughout the building via inside the walls. As conditions worsened, crews had to get out of the building and take a defensive position. A second alarm was eventually transmitted, as there was the need for more aerials and mutual aid from Warren County. 

The fire was rapidly expanding to the other add-on buildings and a third alarm would eventually be transmitted. Command now concentrated on search and rescue tactics, as nine people had to be rescued hanging out their windows in different localities. The quick-moving fire was now threatening 48 rooms of which 42 had been occupied.

Wilson Borough Firefighter Robert Lewullis was searching for victims on the fourth floor of the building behind the old hotel under heavy smoke conditions. He then ran out of air and had to issue a "Mayday ". He was able to find a window to which a 35 ft. ladder was extended to. He descended down the ladder about half way, lost his footing and fell about 20-feet to the ground. He was immediately taken to the St. Lukes Hospital/Anderson Campus in serious condition. Also, five other victims had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

As firefighting conditions continued into the afternoon, there were two partial building collapses. Approximately 50 people were made homeless due to the fire. After the fire was over, one of the heavy fire buildings was demolished and cadaver dogs were brought in to find any unknown victims, with negative results.

Assisting Easton were Wilson Borough, Hecktown, Palmer Municipal, Nancy Run, Williams Twp., Forks Twp., Lower Saucon Twp., Bethlehem Twp. and Phillipsburg, NJ.