Two fires reported around Hanover, Pennsylvania, within hours of each other

Local firefighters were kept busy Monday evening as two separate fires broke out within hours of each other on opposite ends of the Hanover area.

The two fires on Monday evening marked the fourth active fire in just three days within a 10-mile radius of Hanover, with an electrical fire Saturday evening in Heidelberg Township and another fire Monday morning in Straban Township, which injured an occupant.

According to the American Red Cross, the frequency of structure fires typically peaks in December and January, during the coldest time of the year.

Fire at West Manheim Township home confined to one bedroom

A fire that displaced three people in West Manheim Township Monday evening may have been accidentally started by a space heater, officials at the scene said.

Firefighters were first dispatched to the scene of a reported house fire around 6:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in the 2900 block of Baltimore Pike in West Manheim Township, according to 911 records of York County.

While the fire was within walking distance of the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Station, firefighters arrived on scene shortly after the response and found smoke coming from the home, the deputy chief said of the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Ted Clousher.

Firefighters found fire in a bedroom on the second floor of the home, Clousher said, and quickly extinguished the fire after arriving.

Thanks to the rapid extinguishment of the fire, the fire was mainly contained to the room of origin, he said. The bedroom floor plan was changed after the home was built, according to Clousher, who removed a wall between two bedrooms to create a larger room and allowed the fire to grow in that room.

Stairs leading to the attic were burned by the fire, Clousher said, preventing firefighters from immediately accessing the attic to check the extent of the fire.

No injuries were reported, according to Clousher, although three residents of the home will be displaced.

As of Monday evening, the fire was believed to have been started by a ceramic electric heater in the bedroom, Clousher said at the scene.

The Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by the Hanover Area Fire Department, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Southeast Adams Volunteer Emergency Services, Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department and Alpha Fire Company of Littlestown.

Fire destroys garage in Hannover district

On the other side of Hanover, just three hours later, firefighters battled fierce flames inside a commercial garage.

Firefighters were called to a garage fire reported around 8:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in the 200 block of 3rd Street in Hanover Borough, near the Adams County line, according to York County 911 records, and the current fire dispatch was requested.

Shortly after firefighters arrived, heavy flames were seen engulfing the two-story, 20 x 40 commercial garage, located behind Sterner’s Fine Auto Detailing.

The garage, accessible via an alley, was a rental, officials at the scene said, and was leased to a separate tenant from the business across the street.

No injuries were reported at the scene.

With extensive fire damage throughout the building, firefighters worked for just over two hours to clean up hot spots, sifting through smoking debris and several burned vehicles inside the garage.

Hanover Area Fire & Rescue was assisted at this scene by Adams Regional EMS, United Hook & Ladder and the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

Harrison Jones is the Hanover reporter for the Evening Sun. Contact him at [email protected].