Twelve people are without a home today after an early morning fire in York City. The call came in at 6:52 a.m. for a structure fire on the 800 block of Locust Street. The caller reported to dispatchers that there may be children trapped inside the apartment building and crews responded as such until a relative reported that all the children were accounted for.
York City Deputy Fire Chief Gregory Halpin explained the urgency firefighters responded with when they believed the children were trapped. “Any fire we go in we have to double check to make sure there is no one in the building. Reports of kids being trapped takes a firefighter to a completely different level. They’re in there and they’re going to push it to the extreme limits to make sure those kids have a chance to get out,” Chief Halpin explained.
A cause for the fire has not yet been determined and the fire marshal is investigating but they do not believe it is suspicious in any way. There was extensive fire, water and smoke damage to the building.
No injuries were reported and the displaced families are being assisted by the Red Cross.