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NORTH PENN AREA LANDMARK GOES DOWN
IN FLAMES
F.D.M.T. JOINS IN ON MULTI-ALARM
BLAZE AT LANS-BOWL
(3/14/07 - Lansdale Boro)
It was just after 5am when Ladder 18 hit the street to assist
Fairmount Fire Company (Station 14) on a building fire at 606
East Main Street in Lansdale.
18's was just one of
numerous departments called to assist as flames devoured the
Lans-Bowl Bowling Alley. Reports indicate the blaze
started in the A/B corner of the 66 year old North Penn area
landmark, and quickly made its way through the cockloft and
engulfed the entire building.
Too dangerous to fight from
the inside, the operation was confined to the exterior, with
numerous elevated master streams in service to keep the blaze
contained.
An explosion early in the
fire sent concrete and other debris raining down for hundreds of
yards, smashing out the rear liftgate glass of Chief 18's Ford
Expedition. Chief Dave Vasconez was not injured in the
incident.
The condition of the
building deteriorated quickly as the flames spread, compromising
the structure and causing the exterior walls to nearly collapse.
Units operating around the building had to maintain a safe
distance in case of partial or total collapse.
No injuries were reported
in the fire, although the building is a total loss with damages
estimated at $3 million dollars.
The cause of the fire
remains under investigation.
(Pictures courtesy of
the East
Coast Radio Network. More pictures are available by
clicking
here.)
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