A three-alarm fire broke out in downtown Shippensburg on April 10, displacing local residents, including Shippensburg University students.

Officials received an alert at 12:42 p.m. that a multi-unit building on the corner of Fayette and King Streets caught ablaze.

Flames shot out of the windows and roof of a McCune Lumber Co. storage building, where the fire started.

“It’s a complete loss,” said Megan Silverstrim, a public information officer for the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety, referring to the storage building.

Hot Spot Tanning and The Shippensburg Sentinel building sustained water and fire damage, but it will be up to insurance companies to decide if the buildings will be torn down.

Pizza ‘n Stuff also sustained damage, but the staff posted on their Facebook page that they are temporarily closed for renovations and will inform the public when they open up.

About 11 fire companies responded to the blaze, which included about 100 firefighters. Trucks from as far away as Mont Alto and Carlisle assisted the three Shippensburg companies.

Officials are not yet sure what started the fire, but at roughly 2 p.m. Silverstrim said the fire was “smoldering and spreading.”

The blaze was difficult to combat, due to the chemically-treated wood and other building materials inside the lumber yard, she said. Firefighters remained outside of the storage building for safety concerns.

They used ladders to access the second floor of the complex connected to the storage building, and shattered windows to get inside.

Water was pumped from a nearby stream from two different engines to ensure there was a sufficient supply of water available.

The American Red Cross set up an aid station for anyone who was displaced by the fire. The fire affected at least 25 people, and one person received aid from the Red Cross. SU students affected by the fire opted to return to their hometowns for the weekend instead of receiving aid.

No injuries were reported, but at least three ambulances were on standby.

Four businesses were displaced, and officials evacuated about two dozen residents for safety concerns.

Allen White of the Red Cross said the organization was prepared to deal with the physical and emotional needs of the community.

Penelec, which supplies electricity to the area, arrived on the scene to secure power lines. One official said there were concerns regarding the safety of the electric poles.

Dozens of local residents turned out to watch the scene unfold, despite the steady rainfall and smoke filled air. Caution tape was set up to keep the crowd from interfering.

“It was like an inferno,” said Jan Rose, who owns a bed and breakfast across the street from the fire. “I was really scared.”

Rose said she was about to leave her house and walk to the post office when she noticed a truck that was oddly parked in the alley next to her house. Upon further investigation she found there was a host of people and emergency vehicles outside her house.

“I am so impressed they are all volunteers,” Rose said, adding she felt blessed to have such dedicated firefighters protecting the community.

By 3:30 p.m. some fire departments began to pack up equipment, as the situation was under control.

The West End Fire and Rescue Co. posted on their Facebook page that the fire rekindled at the McCune storage building at 1:16 a.m. Sunday.

Arooga’s and Subway donated food to the first responders throughout the afternoon. Cases of water were shipped to the scene to hydrate the exhausted men and women fighting the fire.

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