The blaze that tore through four Tamaqua houses early Thursday appears to have caused enough damage that all four could be destined for demolition.

All four houses apparently were uninsured and costs to rehabilitate the structures might be insurmountable."I have a lot of fire damage to the third floor. The rest is water damage," said Bob Greenall, owner of 114 S. Center St.Greenall was still shaken by the experience at noon Thursday after getting an emergency phone call in the middle of the night."I was getting ready to go to bed when my son called, who works at Mack Trucks in Macungie," said Greenall, 77, a veteran of the real estate business.Damage is so extensive that Greenall doesn't envision any kind of rehabilitation."I think I'll be removing blight," he said. "I haven't lived here in years."Greenall had just spent thousands to upgrade the interior of the house, located at the north end of the row. In addition, the house contained Greenall's $20,000 collection of model airplanes made of balsa wood. All of the collection was lost.Careless smoking in the front room on the second floor of the adjoining house at 116 S. Center led to the fast-moving inferno that easily could have wiped out the entire block were it not for fast action by firefighters.That house, which sustained the most severe damage, was occupied by Matt and Susan Nace, along with friend Jason McFarland.One door away at 118 S. Center, damage is so extensive that tenants William and Claudette Keich don't think they'll be able to return."I think it'll be torn down," Claudette Keich said. "We're staying with relatives in Weatherly. We lost all of our furniture."The Keichs had rental insurance.Keich said she thinks the entire row will be demolished, a sentiment shared by property owner Bruce Keich of Weatherly."Maybe the city will come in and tear them all down," Bruce Keich said, joking that he'd be willing to sell the place for $20.Claudette Keich had high praise for the effort of first responders."I am so proud of the Tamaqua Fire Department and the Coaldale Fire Department, too, for their quick action in saving so much of our possessions."She said firefighters not only were thoughtful and courteous, but treated all of the property with respect, trying to save as much as possible.William, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, collects vintage movie memorabilia and other artifacts related to American heroes and film history. Fortunately, the items appear to be unscathed.Public adjuster Scott Seeherman of Commonwealth Adjusters, Forty Fort, drove to Tamaqua Thursday morning to see if his services could help victims."We come out to see if we can represent them," Seeherman said.However, due to a lack of insurance coverage, Seeherman's services weren't needed.A neighbor, Patrick Griffiths, 23, of 126 S. Centre, was instrumental in leading some of the fire victims to safety."My fiance shook me and said someone outside is yelling 'fire,'" Griffiths said. "I opened my blinds and saw orange."Griffiths ran into burning houses to help. At one point, Griffiths placed his hoodie over the head of a fleeing neighbor as sparks rained down from overhead wires.Griffiths, a diesel mechanic at Transedge Truck Center in Allentown, said he works nights and is accustomed to being awake at late hours.All occupants fled to safety and fire Chief Tom Hartz reported no injuries to occupants or firefighters.The two end houses, 114 and 120 S. Center, are vacant.