Update: Fire on Lehman Street in Lebanon leaves 10 homeless

Feb. 25--Update:

A fire that damaged two apartment units in a 2 1/2 story brick rowhouse on Lebanon's northside Monday afternoon left 10 people homeless. Firefighters were dispatched at 3:26 p.m. to the two-alarm fire at 042 Lehman St., where they found smoke coming from the second floor, according to Lebanon fire Commissioner Duane Trautman.

"The fire was on the second floor of 1042 Lehman, and extended toward the party wall and up into the roofs (of 1042 and 1040)," he said. "The fire was burning out to the west against the wind, so we had a lot of pressure. Wind, wind, wind. That was our issue here."

Five people live in both the first- and second-floor apartments. The adjacent house at 1040 Lehman St. was vacant. All of the residents escaped without injury and were being assisted by the Lebanon Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The response of the firefighters was delayed several minutes because the initial EMA dispatch was for 342 Lehman St., an address that does not exist, Trautman said. Language problems could have been the cause for the misunderstanding, although Trautman said he was not certain. Aided by the wind, the fire spread through voids in the ceiling and walls without being detected by residents until smoke detectors sounded, Trautman said.

"It wasn't noticed until it was very well advanced," he said. "When we arrived there was a lot of smoke. The guys making their way up at first thought there was a third floor and couldn't find it."

Two Lebanon career firefighters, Matt Clements and Burt Wessner, escaped injury when a second floor ceiling collapsed on them, Trautman said. "The ceiling fell on our first two guys up there," he said. "They were doing a search to find the source when the ceiling fell and knocked them down. They weren't complaining of any injuries, but I'm sure they suffered some bumps and bruises and will be feeling it (Tuesday) morning."

Firefighters from Ebenezer, Glenn Lebanon, Speedwell, Hebron and Palmyra Citizens fire companies were dispatched because the fire was "getting out of control quickly," Trautman said.

The cause of the fire was not determined because it started between the roof and second-floor ceiling, Trautman said. He suspected the cause was electrical.

"We will be returning (Tuesday) to do a more thorough study," he said.

Trautman estimated the damage to the house at $75,000 and $15,000 to the contents. The occupants did not have renters' insurance, he said.

Earlier:About 10 people were reportedly displaced following a fire on Lebanon's northside Monday afternoon, according to county dispatch reports.

Firefighters responded to a second-alarm fire at 3:26 p.m. at 1042 Lehman St. where they found the fire on the second floor, according to Lebanon County Fire Commissioner Duane Trautman.

Trautman did not know Monday afternoon if it's an apartment building or a duplex. He also did not know if anyone was injured, but said several people were taken to the First Aid and Safety Patrol ambulance that responded to the scene.

"The fire was on the second floor of 1042 Lehman and extended toward the party wall and up into the roofs (of 1042 and 1040)," he said. "The fire was burning out to the west against the wind so we had a lot of pressure. Wind, wind, wind. That was our issue here."

Firefighters from Ebenezer, Glenn Lebanon, Speedwell, Hebron and Palmyra Citizens fire companies were dispatched because the fire was "getting out of control quickly," Trautman said.

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