Four dead after Sunday morning fire in Lebanon; victims ages range from 1 to 73

Four individuals are dead following a structure fire Sunday afternoon, Sept. 28, on the 800 block of Church Street.

Lebanon city Mayor Sherry Capello announced that the names of the four individuals are not being released at this time, but their ages were 1, 4, 17, and 73 years old.

Capello said the fire originated from an electrical outlet in the first floor living room and has been ruled accidental in nature. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s office is assisting with the investigation, she said.

Capello said another individual is in critical condition and a sixth is in stable condition. Both are hospitalized at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital.

“At the time of the fire, ten individuals were inside the residence, several of whom were guests visiting for a birthday celebration,” said Capello in a press release.

The other four occupants escaped with minor injuries.

The Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched at 8:43 a.m. and arrived within two minutes, Capello said in the release, adding that upon arrival firefighters saw both the first and second floors of the residence were fully engulfed with flames visible from the windows. Firefighters were immediately told that there were people trapped inside and a second alarm assignment was requested.

Capello said that fire crews initially worked to knock down the flames to allow for more aggressive interior operations and during this effort discovered three individuals who were transported to the hospital. Capello said that after rescuing those individuals, conditions within the structure deteriorated, forcing crews to withdraw and continue suppression efforts from the exterior.

After conditions stabilized, firefighters re-entered the building and found two additional victims, Capello said.

The following mutual aid partners and support organizations were thanked by Capello, along with the Lebanon Fire Department, Lebanon City Police, Lebanon City Fire Police, and Lebanon City Public Safety Inspectors.

• Neversink Fire Copmany
• South Lebanon Fire Department
• Neptune Fire Company (Richland)
• Annville-Cleona Fire Department
• Myerstown (Keystone Hook & Ladder)
• Glenn Lebanon Fire Co.
• Community Fire Co. of Cornwall
• Bellegrove Fire Co. (Rehab)
• Salvation Army (Rehab)
• First Aid & Safety Patrol
• Fire police from Neversink & North Lebanon
• Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services

“The City of Lebanon is fortunate to have such a courageous and dedicated community of first responders – neighbors who come together without hesitation in moments of greatest need to protect lives and property,” said Capello.

Capello also extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

“Words cannot capture the depth of our sorrow for their loss,” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those impacted by this devastating event.”

Find our original story below.

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An early morning structure fire Sunday, Sept. 28, on the 800 block of Church street sent three people to WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, left two others unaccounted for as of 11:45 a.m., and saw three other occupants escape on their own, according to city officials.

None of the eight individuals had been identified by publication time, nor had their ages or conditions been disclosed.

The property involved was a brick three story duplex building at 815-817 Church St., a dense city neighborhood near Lebanon Intermediate School. The worst visible damage was concentrated on the 815 side.

According to county dispatch, the first alarm noting “people entrapped” was sounded at 8:43 a.m., and was quickly followed by several more. City firefighters were on scene within minutes. Dozens of fire companies and first responders from throughout the county responded to subsequent alarms.

About hundred neighbors, some crying and visibly distraught, gathered up and down the block, just outside yellow police tape.

Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello, present at the scene, said a woman had fainted on the sidewalk when she apparently learned that she knew some of the victims. Around 9:45 a.m., an unconscious woman of about 60 was placed in an ambulance and taken from the scene to Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

A city firefighter who did not want to be identified told LebTown that “this is the worst I’ve seen in 24 years.”

At 11:45 a.m., speaking at the scene alongside Capello, Fire Chief A.J. Sweitzer told LebTown that there was still “a recovery effort” underway inside the building for two unaccounted-for victims.

Sweitzer said the “legal use” of 815 Church was a single rental unit, but could not say how 817 was being used when the fire erupted. He was uncertain whether smoke alarms were in use in either side.

Sweitzer said the fire was so intense at one point that firefighters “had to pull back from the building due to fire conditions becoming very uninhabitable for us.” After about 15 to 20 minutes, Sweitzer said, firefighters regained control of the situation and “we went back in there and did more fire suppression and searched for two more possible victims.”

Sweitzer said no firefighters or first responders were injured.

Capello thanked firefighters and first responders from outside the city who responded and provided mutual aid to city personnel. The mayor also said “our hearts and our prayers have gone out to the families involved in this horrific incident. This is really a tragedy.”

The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal was on the scene, Sweitzer said, and the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.