Columbia, PA - Around 11:15 A.M. on April 18th, crews from Columbia Borough Fire Department along with mutual aid companies were dispatched to 531 Union Street in the borough for an apartment building with multiple calls being received.

Columbia upgraded to the working fire assignment as they arrived on scene with a garage well off to the rear, with fire spreading to apartments in the front of the structure and a laundry mat attached. Crews went to work trying to knock down the bulk of the fire and protect exposures.

A second-alarm was requested due to fire spreading to an adjacent dwelling on side 'Delta'. Within minutes the third-alarm was requested due to embers traveling across the street and causing a small fire.

At 11:34 A.M., command placed all exposure buildings under control. By 12:00 P.M., command placed the main fire building under control. PSP fire marshals determined the cause was unintentional; gas spilled out of a gas tank and found an ignition source as someone was working on a vehicle. The fire caused over $1.5 million in damages.