Aerial photos show extent of Cumberland Street fire damage; 14 displaced by blaze

The north side of the 800 block of Cumberland Street was taped off Monday, Dec. 15, as damage from Saturday night’s blaze that left 14 people and two animals displaced became clear.

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More than two dozen fire companies and EMS responded to the four-alarm fire, which began around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, Dec. 13. The fire broke out in 845 Cumberland St., an L-shaped parcel that wraps into the center of the block, thought to have been built originally in the late 1800s as a tobacco warehouse.

Aerial photos shot on Monday show a fire-gutted building shell in a space that officials told LebTown previously contained studios. 845 Cumberland St. is home to Simone Associates, a photography and video business.

Next door, at 847 Cumberland St., is Lebanon Picture Frame, which posted Monday that the business will be closed until it can set up at a temporary location. “We are heartbroken for everyone affected,” said the business in a Facebook post.

The building at 845-847 Cumberland St., known at one time as the Hauer Building, was described in the Lebanon Valley Conservancy’s Downtown Lebanon Heritage Trail as having “both Italianate and Sullivanesque influences.”

Over the years it has been home to a dry goods store, a carpet weaving company, a cigar factory, a shoe store, and a tobacco store, and that’s just a small sampling of the building’s past lives. Simone Associates has been based there since the mid-1990s. Its founder, Bill Simone, died in 2012.

Next door, the Nitrauer Building at 831-835 Cumberland St. is home to Seniors Helping Seniors and Iron Valley Real Estate, both on the first floor. This building once held Lebanon’s first telephone switchboard on its third floor, according to a 1922 advertisement by the Bell Telephone Co. of Pennsylvania that was uncovered by Lebanon history buff Pat Rhen.

Despite the severe damage to the block’s interior, the historic facades on Cumberland Street appeared to have survived mostly intact, but water damage caused the buildings from 827 to 847 Cumberland St. to be listed as condemned. Officials are optimistic that the buildings fronting Cumberland Street can be saved.

Two firefighters were injured battling the blaze, Lebanon city fire chief A.J. Sweitzer told LebTown.

Crews have returned to the scene multiple times due to numerous hotspots in hard to reach locations, according to a Monday post by Lebanon Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1952.

The cause of the fire was still unknown as of publication time.

“Following the devastating fire Saturday night in downtown Lebanon, we stand firmly with our community as recovery begins,” said Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello in an email to LebTown. “We are committed to supporting the people and businesses displaced, including several valued local establishments, and to helping them navigate the challenges ahead.

“While the fire damaged historic buildings known for their beautiful architecture, it did not diminish the strength, resilience, or spirit of our downtown. Together, we will work to restore, and rebuild an important block of historic Lebanon.”