Bystanders rescue two children off roof at house fire near McSherrystown

Two children were rescued off the porch roof of an Adams County home by bystanders after the home caught fire, officials said.

Firefighters were called to the scene in the 700 block of Linden Avenue in Conewago Township, between McSherrystown and Hanover, for a report of a house on fire around 3:09 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2024, according to Adams County dispatch records.

Before firefighters arrived on the scene, two children were reported to have climbed out of a window and were sitting on the front porch roof of the home, said Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services Captain John Myers.

Myers said that the two children were assisted off the roof by bystanders and were not reported to be injured.

"They did what they should do," Myers said, noting that the two quickly implemented an escape plan to get themselves to safety.

When firefighters arrived, they found a fire burning in the wall near the door to the second floor apartment, which had cut off the primary escape route for the second floor residents, Myers said.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and worked to ensure the fire was out, and Myers said the fire was contained to the wall where it began.

There was some fire damage on the interior of the home, Myers said, as the fire burned through the other side of the wall.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Myers said, and a state police fire marshal will be out either Wednesday or Thursday to investigate the cause.

The Red Cross was called to assist with displacement of individuals living in the building.

Assisting Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services on the scene included Hanover Area Fire & Rescue, Community Life Team EMS, Irishtown Volunteer Fire Company, Alpha Fire Company of Littlestown, and United Hook & Ladder.

Harrison Jones is the Hanover reporter for the Evening Sun. Reach him at hjones@gannett.com.