LTFD .org Community News and Information   News Room   Join Us   Recent Incidents   Members Only   2012 Calendar   Training   Event Sign Up   Fire Prevention   Apparatus   Multimedia   Apparel   Hall Rental-Members   Reflective Green Signs   Fire Police   Photo Archive   Members   Officers   Community   Contact Us   Live Web CAD   Lanc. Co. Stations   2010 Banquet   Monthly Call Totals   Online Training   Tornado Safety Recent Incidents LTFD Assists Lancaster City FD May 25th, 2005, 9:55 PM Click Here For Photos LANCASTER CITY, PA - An early-morning blaze ripped through four row homes on Fairview Avenue in the City Of Lancaster. The 2:26 a.m. general-alarm fire erupted in the basement of 23 Fairview Avenue. Flames filled 23 Fairview Avenue and spread in both directions through adjoining homes at 21, 25 and 27 Fairview Avenue, causing at least $250,000 damage, fire officials said. The blaze triggered an evacuation of the burning home and three others in the row. 13 people who live or were staying at the four homes either fled to safety or were away when the fire broke out. “There was fire on all the floors of 23 Fairview Avenue. when we got there, and the flames were coming up the exterior,’’ said Battalion Chief Duane Hagelgans. Firefighters initially attacked the fire from the interior and quickly were given an order to evacuate the building as interior conditions deteriorated rapidly. After all crews were out of the building, as the fire became defensive attack. Portable ground monitors and an elevated masterstream from Lancaster City Truck 2 on 23 and 21 Fairview Avenue brought down the exterior flames in about 45 minutes, but the fire continued to spread through interior walls that connect the homes. “The crews kept opening the walls, and they kept finding fire,’’ Hagelgans said. The home at 23 Fairview Avenue was destroyed and fire damage is heavy at 21 Fairview Avenue., Hagelgans said. The damage at 25 and 27 Fairview Avenue is not quite as heavy as the exterior flames did not reach those dwellings. The burned-out occupants are blaming the fire on a 22-year-old man named “Ivan” who was a temporary resident at 23 Fairview Avenue. A resident of 23 Fairview Avenue told a city fire inspector Alex Grumbrecht that the man had been riding a dirt bike in the neighborhood and returned to the home early today intoxicated and apparently angry because neighbors had threatened to call police. The resident explained to investigators the man wheeled the dirt bike into the basement, left it running, and then allegedly tossed a cigarette that ignited gasoline on the floor. The victims of the fire are being aided by volunteers from the American Red Cross Susquehanna Valley Chapter. Red Cross personnel are providing them with vouchers for lodging, meals, and clothing. 40 Lancaster City firefighters from four shifts attacked the blaze. Volunteers from Willow Street, PA assisted with their 100 foot Ladder Tower to reach the rooftops of the rowhomes. An air cascade squad from Mountville, PA also assisted at the scene to refill air cylinders. Lancaster Township Fire Department transferred an engine to Lancaster City Station Number 1 and Lafayette Fire Company transferred their ladder truck to Station Number 3 to cover the city for additional calls. There were no injuries reported. Print this article - Email this article ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------