Flames raced up the exterior of a vacant Lansford home late Wednesday afternoon, bringing firefighters from throughout the Panther Valley and surrounding area.

The fire at 245 E. Abbott St. started just after 5 p.m., and firefighters quickly upgraded the response to 2nd and 3rd alarms due to the proximity of the homes and manpower, Lansford Fire Chief Joseph Greco said.

Flames damaged the back wall of the home and the kitchen, but the house remains structurally sound, he said.

The first arriving fire departments did a good job on stopping the fire from spreading further, Greco said, but the two neighboring homes did have some damage.

The residence at 243 E. Abbott St. had some fire reach an upstairs bathroom, but the flames were quickly extinguished, Greco said. The home also has smoke damage, and the resident planned to stay elsewhere overnight, he said.

There was also slight damage to 241 E. Abbott St., where flames got underneath some siding, Greco said.

No one was injured and the cause of the fire remains undetermined, he said. A state police fire marshal was brought into investigate due to the suspicious nature of the fire, starting outside of a vacant home, Greco said.

Firefighters are trying to determine who owns the home, as property records indicate the home is owned by a person from Macungie, he said. State police in Fogelsville were going to reach out that person, Greco said.

Fire crews remained at the home for about two hours, and then returned when the state police fire marshal began an investigation around 8:30 p.m., he said.

Firefighters from Lansford, Summit Hill, Coaldale, Nesquehoning Station 1, Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe, Mahoning Township, Weatherly, Lehighton and Tuscarora responded. Tamaqua and Weatherly sent Rapid Intervention Teams, and the Lehigh & Lausanne Twp. fire company sent their rehab unit.