LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Nearly 40 people are without a home in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, after a fire ripped through 24 units of an apartment building early Sunday morning.
Duane Ober, fire commissioner with the Warwick Emergency Services Commission, estimates 100 firefighters from a dozen companies responded to the scene before 5 a.m.
“We were notified just before 4:30 for this building on fire, and when we arrived, we had fire shown in multiple locations,” Ober said.
Peggy Campbell lives across the street and says she was alerted by her dog at around 4 a.m.
“At first, there were just people scurrying around, and then I saw flames, big flames," Campbell said. "That’s where it all started moving down the building."
“We started hearing fire engines around 4:15,” said Ross McCracken from the next neighborhood.
His wife texted him about the fire while on a run.
“She’s in the medical field, so she thought she should head over here just to make sure everything was good," McCracken said. "By the time she was here, there were already first responders on top of everything."
Neighbors like Campbell rushed to help residents evacuate and take shelter.
“I grabbed my pet taxis and leashes and started trying to get animals and took some people inside to keep them warm,” Campbell said.
Officials say there were no major injuries.
“A total of five have been transported just for precautionary injuries,” Ober said.
Neighbors reported flames coming from the second floor of the building before spreading to the roof, though this was not confirmed by officials.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, and the building is uninhabitable due to fire, smoke and water damage.
The damage cost is also not known.
American Red Cross is working with the leasing company to assist displaced residents and provided the following statement:
The Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting residents after an apartment fire this morning along Creekside Lane in Warwick Township, Lancaster County.
The Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to the scene around 6 a.m. and helped 22 people (21 adults and one child) affected by the fire. The Red Cross provided assistance and resources for emergency lodging, food, relief supplies, emotional support and other assistance. Red Cross caseworkers will continue to help the impacted residents in the days and weeks ahead to ensure the residents receive the resources they need to recover from this disaster.
“You just feel so much for the people who are displaced and praise God no one was seriously injured,” McCracken said.
“Just thoughts and prayers for the families,” Campbell added.