Firefighters from all areas of Schuylkill County battled a stubborn blaze covering almost one block of row houses in Mahanoy City on Tuesday night.

The fire, which began at 6:21 p.m., affected a series of eight wood-frame houses, each three stories high, at 217 to 231 Centre St., Route 54.Residents of 217 Centre said they believe the blaze began in an unoccupied dwelling at the center of the row and then spread in both directions.All residents were safely evacuated."We were allowed to get out pets out. The firefighters let us do it," said a female resident, who also indicated that about half of the dwellings were unoccupied.At least six aerial ladders were put into use to tackle the flames from various angles and positions above the rooftops.Firefighters fought the flames from Centre Street and, in the rear, at Railroad Street. Over an hour into the blaze, additional fire companies were summoned from Tamaqua and other locations. Tamaqua Rescue Squad was placed into service at the first alarm.At least one firefighter was taken to a nearby hospital.Emergency units responding included fire companies from Mahanoy City, Hometown, Ryan Township, Frackville, Shenandoah, Minersville and others.The cause is under investigation, and a state police fire marshal was expected to be at the scene today.