Multiple Lansdale residents were displaced from their homes on Sunday evening, following a basement fire along the unit block of Walnut Street.
According to Fairmount Fire Company Assistant Chief Gavin Butler, crews were dispatched to 109 Walnut Street for a report of a fire shortly after 6 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered visible flames coming out of the basement of the building.
“There was a decent amount of fire in the basement, but we were able to make a stop and keep the fire from extending into the rest of the building,” said Butler.
Butler stated that the fire was placed under control in roughly 30 minutes, but they upgraded to a second alarm as a precaution.
“We did have it under control pretty quickly,” said Butler. “We upgraded to a second alarm because of the amount of fire in the basement, as well as the size, occupancy and age of the building.”
No injuries were reported at the scene, but due to fire damage in the basement, as well as smoke and water damage to other parts of the building, tenants of the property have not been allowed to return.
“There are about ten apartments located above, and as of last night, nobody was allowed back into their apartments,” said Butler, adding that he did not know when they would be allowed to return. “They were all referred to the Red Cross, who was on scene until pretty late last night.”
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the fire marshal, according to Butler.
In addition to the Fairmount Fire Company, crews from Hatfield, Montgomery Township, Worcester, Colmar, Towamencin, Hilltown and Chalfont fire companies assisted at the scene. Additional responding units include the Lansdale Borough Police Department, Lansdale Volunteer Medical Services Corps and the Red Cross.
Coverage for Lansdale during the fire was provided by the Upper Gwynedd Township Fire Company.
(Editor’s note: Assistant Chief Butler clarified that the call from dispatch originally stated that the fire was 107 Walnut Street, but upon arrival, crews noticed that it was at 109 Walnut Street.)
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