5/4/11 - East Hempfield Township - Columbia Avenue

Around 2150 hours, while the Strasburg bowling alley fire was just about to go third alarm, a building fire was dispatched to 2931 Columbia Avenue in East Hempfield Township (Lancaster Co). The fire was reported at the West Lancaster Diner and responding units were advised the scene was unsecure due to a robbery with a victim tied up inside. PD reported fire showing and first arriving companies from Station 6-7 (Rohrerstown) staged until the scene was cleared. Companies led off with blitz fire and aerial stream operations as heavy fire consumed the building. firefighters operated for about 30 minutes to knock down the bulk of the fire and were ordered to not enter the structure. The diner, formerly a Fuddruckers restaurant, was destroyed in the blaze. Numerous fire companies from the west side of Lancaster City battled the blaze. No injuries were reported and the blaze is comsidered suspicious.