3/29/11 - Lansing house fire, 419 S. Pennsylvania

The Lansing Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire right at the beginning of shift change on the morning of Tuesday, March 29, 2011. The 6:32 AM dispatch sent Engines 41, 45, 47 & 48, Trucks 41 & 48, Battalion Chiefs 41 & 49 to 419 S. Pennsylvania at the corner of Hickory. First arriving units from Station 41 had smoke showing from the upstairs of a two story house that had been converted into 5 apartments. Engine 41 pulled their preconnects and began an aggressive interior attack as Engine 48 got the hydrant across the street for supply. As command observed the worsening smoke conditions he requested a 5th engine company for more manpower, bringing Engine 42. Fire conditions in the attic continued to worsen and all personnel were evacuated from the structure to begin an exterior attack. Engine 42 laid 800 ft of 5 inch supply line from a hydrant one block east in order to supply Truck 48 to use their aerial. Firefighters rescued two pets, a cat that was on the roof and a dog from inside one of the apartments. As soon as the fire was knocked down, personnel reentered the house to complete extinguishment. Investigators believe this fire was caused by careless use of an electric space heater.