5/21/08 - Hummelstown Borough - E. Main St

Dauphin County fire pre-alert tone struck Box 46-1 at 1245 hours for a reported working structure fire at 297 E. Main Street. Responding units were informed of an explosion with live wires down. At this time a full first alarm assignment was dispatched. Truck 46 (Hummelstown) arrived with heavy fire from the rubble of a vacant restaurant, resulting from an explosion, that sent scattering debris across the street. Engine 46 (Hummelstown) and 47 (Union Deposit) each grabbed a hydrant and prepared to supply Truck 46 and 88 (Middletown). A 2.5 inch line was also set up along with the aerial streams as companies attempted to knock the fire down. Fearing further explosions crews were brought back a safer distance after beginning to search the rubble for possible victims. Additional resources were requested to the scene by Command 46. Engine 59 (Lower Swatara) hit a hydrant on the north side of the structure and supplied Truck 456 (Chambers Hill). Firefighters continued to apply water on the fire for almost 2 hours before declaring control. The explosion was the result of a backhoe doing sidewalk construction striking a gas line.3 people were transported for non-life threatening injuries.