Eyewitness account of Linglestown fire

Gazette reader Justin Gensimore was kind enough to pass along this exclusive eyewitness account of Wednesday night’s blaze along Blue Mountain Parkway. Justin, good stuff and welcome to the world of citizen journalism!

I would like to provide [Gazette readers] with some details as I was on my way home and live in the Blue Meadows Farm development. The building [that burned] is situated behind a line of trees and the "driveway" leads directly to the Parkway. It is about 100 feet after the entrance to the development. If you were to be at the end of Saint Thomas Blvd (Blue Meadows Farm Developments exit), you can see some charred remains. It would be northwest (or about 2 o'clock) of your position at the stop sign. As I understand it, the building was vacant and the electricity was disconnected over a year ago. Also, it is a big deal for high school students to adventure into this old farmhouse. When I arrived, there were at least 10 fire engines on the scene with even more arriving by the minute. It was a big fire with plumes of smoke rising to the extent of a forest fire. Cheers to the local volunteer firefighters for doing an outstanding job.

Lower Paxton police consider the fire to be suspicious in origin. Anyone with any information about the fire is encouraged to call the police at (717) 657-5656 or the Lower Paxton Tip Line at (717) 635-2606.

For more info, check out a video report from WHP-TV 21 that features comments by Linglestown Fire Chief Bill Payne. Also, the fire company's Web site has a summary of the fire call and photos.