Firemen Put Quick Hit on Lock Haven Hill District Fire

LOCK HAVEN – Firemen from Lock Haven, Dunnstown and Jersey Shore responded to a Wednesday afternoon structure fire at the corner of N. Fairview and Center streets in the city’s hill district.

Lock Haven deputy fire chief Norm Wolfrom said their efforts prevented greater damage to the two-and-a-half story brick structure housing four Lock Haven University male students. The several inside the building escaped safely after discovering the blaze in a third floor one-bedroom apartment; that apartment dweller was not present at the time of the fire. The residents were looking for lodging elsewhere after the fire.

Wolfrom said second floor residents smelled smoke, went to the stairs leading to the third floor and called in the alarm. He said some 25 to 30 firemen responded and did “an outstanding job, knocking down the flames with a quick hit.” He said a state police fire marshal will visit the scene on Thursday to investigate for a cause.

Wolfrom estimated damage to the third floor apartment contents at between five and six thousand dollars and damage to the structure at between 15 and 16 thousand dollars. The building was reported owned by Realtylease Properties of Lock Haven.