Lancaster Township Fire Department

05/31/2026

𝗚𝗮𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
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Lancaster Township, PA — At approximately 6:35 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Lancaster Township Fire Department volunteers responded to a reported dwelling fire at 1674 Chadwick Circle following a 911 call stating that a hot water heater had “blown up” and was on fire.
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A resident who was in the basement at the time of the explosion sustained burn injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Lancaster EMS.
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Upon arrival, Assistant Chief James Logan reported light smoke coming from the front of a 2-story duplex. The rear entry doors had been blown off and were found on the rear patio. Significant structural damage was immediately visible. All occupants had exited the home except for three cats, which were later safely rescued by firefighters.
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Fire crews stretched a hand line into the basement and located active fire in a small storage area beneath the staircase. The fire briefly reignited after initial knockdown, but firefighters fully extinguished it after securing the propane tank supplying the home’s appliances.
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𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
A joint investigation determined that a recently installed propane-fueled hot water heater had been leaking gas. The home’s hot water heater, kitchen stove, and furnace were all supplied by an above-ground 250-gallon propane tank located in the backyard.
Because propane is heavier than air, gas accumulated along the basement floor until it encountered an undetermined ignition source, triggering the explosion and flash fire.
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Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Colby Shesko, Troop J Fire Marshal Unit (Avondale, Chester County), classified the cause of the explosion and flash fire as undetermined.
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𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲
The home, valued at $271,000, sustained major structural damage:
• The exterior wall separated from the structure, creating a cleavage from the basement to the third floor.
• Rear entry doors were blown outward onto the patio and cracked the wood fence surrounding the patio.
• The explosion force traveled up the basement stairs into the dining room and kitchen, scattering glass and shifting appliances. The wall above the garage was visibly bowed outward.
• Fire, smoke, and water damage were minimal compared to the blast impact.
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The adjoining unit experienced light smoke damage but no visible structural compromise.
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Lancaster Township Code Enforcement Officer John Donnelly condemned the home pending a full structural inspection.
The home was deemed uninhabitable
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Restoration crews from ClassOne secured the property.
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𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀
Assisting Lancaster Township firefighters were units from:
• Blue Rock Fire Rescue
• East Petersburg Fire Company
• Lafayette Fire Company
• Lancaster City Bureau of Fire
• Mountville Fire Company
• New Danville Fire Company
• Lancaster EMS
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All units cleared the scene at 7:52 p.m.
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𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒
Permission is granted to use photos bearing the Lancaster Township Fire Department logo.
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Contact: Captain Greg Leaman, Lancaster Township Fire Department Email: [email protected]
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Arrival video courtesy Emeritus Chief Glenn Usdin.

05/27/2026

Three‑Vehicle Collision at Millersville Pike and Schoolhouse Road Requires Patient Extrication
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Lancaster Township, PA — May 27
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At 2:08 PM today, Lancaster Township Fire Department volunteers responded to a three‑vehicle collision at the intersection of Millersville Pike and Schoolhouse Road.
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Upon arrival, crews found a black 2015 Nissan Murano and a red 2026 Toyota Tacoma with significant damage following an initial impact between the two vehicles. A gray 2007 Ford Ranger, unable to stop in time, subsequently struck the opposite side of the red 2026 Toyota Tacoma, resulting in minor front‑end damage. The driver was not injured.
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A passenger in the Toyota Tacoma was briefly confined inside the vehicle. Firefighters and EMS personnel performed a safe and coordinated extrication before transferring the patient to medical care. The driver was evaluated by EMS.
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The driver of the black 2015 Nissan Murano was assisted out of the car by EMS personnel and transported to the hospital.
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The multi‑agency response supporting Lancaster Township firefighters included:
• Lancaster City Squad 1
• MTFR Engine 201
• Lancaster EMS units 06‑2, 06‑5, 06‑51
• Medic 6‑20, Medic 600, Penn Med 1
• Lancaster Township Police Department
• Millersville Borough Police
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The scene was secured, and traffic control remained in place until all vehicles were removed by Morgan Towing. The incident is under investigation by the Lancaster Township Police Department.
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Units returned at 3:01 PM.

05/27/2026

Congratulations to the five firefighters who stepped up and achieved EMT status last evening, May 26, graduation night. You’ve expanded your ability to save lives and protect your community. Your commitment to helping others keeps our community strong. Proud of you all.
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Assistant Chief Mel Reyes, Lieutenant Katie Remely, Firefighter Christina Roop, Firefighter Rey Torres, and Firefighter Cole Hatfield.

05/25/2026

05/12/2026

ENGINE 66-1 Placed Into Service

In service: 7:22 pm, May 11, 2026
Delivery Date: 3/18/2026
Year/Make/Model: 2025 Pierce Enforcer
Type of truck: Pumper
Designation: E66-1
Engine: Cummins L9, 450 hp
Transmission: Allison 3000EVS
Pump: Hale QMAX-200, 2,000 GPM
Water tank size: 500-gallons
Wheelbase: 194.00”
Overall Height: 117.00” (9’ 9.00”)
Overall Length: 385.00” (32’ 1.00”)
Seating Capacity: 6

Additional details:
• New York Style Hose Bed
• 22-inch extended bumper
• Side Roll and Frontal Impact Protection
• TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension
• 3.00″ Deluge outlet w/TFT Extend-a-Gun XG12 Riser
• Akron Monitor
• HAAS Alert Collision Mitigation System
• Rear Vision Camera
• Gortite® roll-up doors
• HiViz Scene Lighting
• Whelen Emergency Lighting

https://www.glickfire.com/apparatus/lancaster-twp-fd-39970/

05/03/2026

Engine 1 progress 5-3-26. Some items may have changed after the photos were captured.

05/01/2026

One person dies in Manor Township apartment building Fire.
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Lancaster Township volunteers assisted Blue Rock FR at an apartment building fire at the Spring Manor Apartments in the 700 block of Millersville Road in Manor Township on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 8:49 pm.
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Rescue/Engine 66 picked up Blue Rock FR Engine 901's supply line at the hydrant near the Millersville Road/Fairview Drive intersection.
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Red Cross was requested to assist 15 people who were displaced by the fire.
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“We mourn the loss of the neighbor who passed away in the fire at Millersville Road and Fairway Drive, and our hearts go out to all those who have been displaced,” Blue Rock Regional Fire District posted in a message on social media.
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Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Colby Shesko is investigating the cause of the fire.
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Permission is granted to use the photos with LTFD logo.

04/22/2026

LTFD volunteers were dispatched at 3:38 PM to a motor vehicle accident involving a school bus at the intersection of School House Road and Abbeyville Road.
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The three-vehicle chain-reaction accident occurred after a blue 2024 Nissan Rogue rear-ended a black 2014 Jeep Wrangler, which subsequently rear-ended bus 123 from the Shultz Transportation Company, a full-size 2020 IC Bus PB 105.
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Two injuries were initially reported. The driver of the third vehicle sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by Lancaster EMS.
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The bus and Jeep sustained minor damage and could be driven from the scene. The Nissan Rogue suffered severe front-end damage. Minor spill control was provided for leaking fluids from the blue SUV.
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16 Children were on the bus at the time of the accident. None of the students reported any injuries.
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Fire department personnel were not needed and returned to service shortly after arrival. Fire police remained on scene until 4:24 PM.

04/22/2026

20 LTFD volunteers traveled to Pequea Lane fire school for pump training with new Engine 66-1 for the Engineering staff and drivers. The remaining firefighters practiced engine company operations, including ladders, hose lines, and hydrant connections.

04/18/2026

The Lancaster Township Fire Department is bringing back a piece of firefighting tradition, announcing that a restored house siren will return to service beginning around May 1. The siren will operate during daytime hours, sounding from dawn to dusk.
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The project came together over the past several days, culminating in the installation of the siren atop a utility pole. Over the past two days, the siren infrastructure was installed by Fire Chief Justin Brian and Assistant Chief James Logan of Heritage Communications. And today it was placed atop a utility pole by Chief Brian and firefighter Pat Egan
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Efforts to acquire the siren were led by Firefighter Pat Eagan, who placed a notice in the Pennsylvania Fireman magazine seeking a used unit. The request was answered by a collector from Columbia, PA, who donated a vintage Federal 12-horn house siren to the department.
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The siren had been stored at the collector’s property in Clearfield County, where decommissioned units from fire departments are preserved. Firefighter Eagan traveled to retrieve the siren during a snowstorm, spending the night before returning to Lancaster the following morning.
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Before being placed into service, the siren underwent extensive refurbishment, including updates to its paint, wiring, and motors to ensure dependable operation.
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The reinstallation of the house siren not only enhances daytime alerting capabilities but also reconnects the community with a longstanding fire service tradition.