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Row house fires hit city, Lititz
Firefighter and three city residents hurt; damage set at $310,000
Intelligencer Journal
Published: Apr 25, 2008
00:39 EST
By JENNIFER TODD and MICHAEL YODER, Staff

Fire crews work to extinguish an early morning blaze Thursday that tore through the attics of row home...(more)
 
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Front Street fire in Lititz.
Front Street fire in Lititz.
 
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Fires ripped through row homes in Lancaster city and Lititz Thursday morning, displacing more than a dozen people and injuring four.

In the city, a three-alarm blaze ripped through three rowhomes shortly after 3 a.m.

The fire started in debris outside an unoccupied home at 135 Howard Ave., fire officials said.

City fire marshal Sue Warchola said Thursday the cause remained unknown. The investigation is continuing and has been turned over to city and state police, she added.

The blaze caused $60,000 in damage to homes at 133, 135½ and 135 Howard Ave. and also damaged two parked cars, officials said.

The three members of a family living at 135½ were injured as they jumped to safety from a 15-foot-high porch roof, according to fire officials.

They were identified as Jeremiah Trego, 27, Jessica Lugo, 26, and their daughter, Hennessey Trego, 7. All were initially taken to local hospitals.

Hennessey Trego was listed in serious condition Thursday afternoon at Hershey Medical Center, where she had been transferred. Jeremiah Trego was transferred to Crozer-Chester Medical Center. He was reported in critical condition earlier in the day, but his condition could not be confirmed Thursday night.

Lugo's condition was also not available Thursday night. A nursing supervisor at Lancaster General Hospital said she was no longer a patient there.

According to published reports, Joanne Dickinson, of 133 Howard Ave., escaped the fire. She said three young men recently moved out of 135 Howard Ave.

In Lititz, a fire started by a discarded cigarette tore through attics of rowhomes at 71, 73, 75 and 77 Front St. shortly after midnight.

The two-alarm blaze caused $250,000 in damage and displaced 11 people. A firefighter was slightly injured.

The fire started in a third-floor bedroom at 73 Front St. and was accidental, officials said.

Residents of the home are Martin and Kathy Campbell and their son Jason. The elder Campbells were home at the time of the blaze. Jason Campbell left for work shortly before, according to published reports.

Also displaced were Bryan Keath of 71 Front St., Karl and Marlene Weiler of 75 Front St., and five people at the Hartung residence, 77 Front St.

Lititz resident Eugene Patrella was having a few drinks at the Hideaway Bar around the corner on Kleine Lane when he smelled smoke coming through a fan in the window.

Patrella ran out of the bar with other patrons to the homes on Front Street, helping the Campbell family out of their home as smoke poured out the windows.

Other citizens went door-to-door to make sure residents of the other homes had escaped.

"Nobody was hurt, so that's all that counts," Patrella said.

Residents sat on the sidewalk with pets, including dogs and some birds.

Firefighters from six departments battled the blaze, which was brought under control about 3 a.m. Crews remained on the scene until 8 a.m.

The homes at 71, 73 and 75 Front St. were too damaged to be livable, according to published reports.

The Hartung home at 77 Front St. appeared to have only smoke damage.

Brunnerville Fire Company engine driver Mike Steffy said the smoke coming out of the homes was so thick when he arrived that he had a difficult time maneuvering down the street.

American Red Cross is assisting those displaced by both fires, assessing their needs and providing food and shelter.

 

Front Street, Lititz

 

E-mail: jtodd@lnpnews.com

E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com


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