Shopping Center Fire Started In Reality Office

Carl sideman of Manheim Township, PA was on his way home from picking up his car at Lebzelter’s Automotive Store when he noticed a “commotion” at the Lancaster Shopping Center: From Oregon Pike he saw a firefighter atop a ladder cut a hole into the wooden shingle facade of the former David W. Menswear Store, now Berger Real Estate Inc.

“He chopped a hole with an ax and flames just shot out,” Sideman said.

Emergency workers were dispatched to the shopping center at 12:05 p.m. after 911 received a call of a small fire on the roof.

Southern Manheim Township Fire Chief Kevin Dick said the fire was electrical in nature and started in the wiring inside the building’s facade. He estimated damage around $3000.

Marilyn Berger, owner of Berger Real Estate, said she was inside the building when a male passer-by told her the roof was on fire.

Berger’s real estate office moved into the Lancaster Shopping Center three weeks ago from Lititz Pike. She said a sign was supposed to go up outside next week, but Saturday afternoon she doubted that would be possible.

Employees from Berger’s real estate office, The inside Track and The Plum congregated inside the S.Clyde Weaver Inc. store after being evacuated from their businesses while firefighters checked for fire in the building, Dick Said.

Wooden shingles fell as firefighters searched the roof for hot spots from a platform atop Lancaster Township Fire Department Truck 6-6.

Manheim Township emergency agencies, including Eden, Neffsville and East Petersburg firefighters, and Warwick EMS assisted at the scene.