Former Weaver Piano & Organ factory, 127 N. Broad St., York PA
Posted on 03/22/2018 7:14:39 PM PDT by lightman
Officials in York have identified two firefighters killed in a structure collapse earlier today.
Ivan Flanscha, 50, and Zachary Anthony, 29, and died from injuries sustained when the building collapsed just before 4 p.m. on the 100 block of North Broad Street in York. Both were later pronounced dead at York Hospital.
Crews were at the scene of the the fire -- which broke out Wednesday evening at the former Weaver Organ and Piano -- trying to suppress parts of the fire that had reignited, York fire Chief David Michaels said at a news conference Thursday. Those remnants could have caused even more damage if they were allowed to burn and spread to neighboring property, Michaels said. The building was being renovated to become apartments, according to neighbors.
The cause and manner of Flanscha and Anthony's deaths are pending. The York Daily Record shared a gallery of Flanscha's moments as a public servant through the years. He was a 20-year veteran of the fire department and a past recipient of the "Firefighter of the Year" award, along with other commendations during his service.
York Mayor Michael Helfrich identified Anthony at the news conference. He noted that Anthony was a personal friend of his in expressing his condolences for the young man, who had been with the department since August 2010.
"This is a tragic day in York history," Helfrich said.
Michaels said he spoke with Assistant Chief Greg Altland and firefighter Eric Swanson, also injured in the fire, and said they will be OK.
"This is the worst day of my career," Michaels said. "It is a dark day [for the York fire department.)"
Autopsies are scheduled for Friday at Lehigh Valley Hospital. York police are investigating the incident.
"We're going to do what firefighters do," Michaels said before being overcome with emotion and ending his statement at the news conference.
City officials said multiple families on Walnut Street have been displaced by the fire and are being assisted at a neighborhood church. Ways to families and firefighters will be released by city officials Friday.
Former Weaver Piano & Organ factory, 127 N. Broad St., York PA
Lord please receive these brave men who were willing to do their job with all the risks, that they were being paid to do....Unlike the Broward County SD.
Ping.
Rest in peace, brothers.
Sounds like supervisory error. If no lives were at risk, the approach should have been more conservative.
"...firefighters killed in building collapse..."
I agree,the building looks empty.We just lost a Firefighter here in PA today.Cant do links-on a stupid iPad.
As I have learned here from my experience with the Sonoma County fires, it was probably particle beam weaponry and Agenda 21. That was sarcasm for those unable to read between the lines.
This is sad, indeed. Sadly, this structure does not look like something they should have been risking their lives on.
Amen Brother Amen! Most of these type of multistory buildings in the old sections of eastern cities had WOODEN floors soaked with oils and other fluids over the many years of occupation. “Bombs” ready to go off! Nobody should have been in that building.
The article doesn’t say they were inside the building when it collapsed. In fact, another article I saw on this fire said no firefighters were in the building when it collapsed. Still a lot of sketchy details about this, but I’m guessing the firefighters were outside of the building and it collapsed outward on top of them— easy to imagine if they were on the exterior applying hand-streams to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.
The building is surrounded by residential structures—densely packed three story row houses to the south with just a narrow alley in between and two story less densely packed duplexes to the north with a slightly wider alley in between.
"...collapsed outward on top of them..."
firefighters do not risk their lives on buildings, but on people.
Agree. Surround and drown.
OK Checked with someone who knows what happened.First attack on fire was inside.The fire flared back up and 2nd attack was outside.That’s when the building collapsed.
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