Just after 1:30 pm this afternoon, the Lancaster Bureau of Fire was dispatched to the Stevens House Apartments for a reported fire. LCWC recieved calls from residents reporting smoke in the hallway.
Upon arrival, Battalion Chief Oatman observed heavy smoke and fire from a 5th floor balcony of the 9-story residential high-rise. He immediately requested the second and third alarms. Initial City Fire units began search and rescue efforts as well as aggressive fire attack operations.
Heavy smoke conditions were present on several floors and County 911 was recieving reports of several occupants trapped throughout the building. Just before 2pm, Command requested a general-alarm(4th-alarm) assignment. In addition, Truck 24, Truck 66(Lancaster Twp) and Rescue 66(Air) were requested to assist.
Truck 24 arrived onscene within 6 minutes from dispatch and was ordered to the Alpha side of the building. The initial assignment was to set-up the aerial and access the fire floor to assist with operations. While postioning the aerial, a resident was spotted on a 5th floor balcony. The ladder was repositioned for a possible rescue. Crews from City Fire reached the victim as Truck 24 was accessing the balcony. The resident was then evacuated through the building.
The ladder was repositioned to access the 7th floor and assist with search operations. Command recieved a report of a resident on the roof. Several personnel from Truck 24 and City Fire made their way to the roof. The occupant was fitted with an SCBA and assisted to safety through an interior stairwell. The truck crew assisted with a top down search of the building. Firefighters forced entry into several apartments to ensure that all residential units were clear.
Truck 24 operated onscene for about 2 hours prior to being released. In all, close to 20 residents were rescued throughout the event.
