Garden Spot Fire Rescue (GSFR39) reported a series of back-to-back fire incidents on October 18, beginning at 2:15 p.m. when Pumper Tanker 39 was dispatched as part of a tanker task force to assist Company 20 (Manheim Township Fire Rescue) with a working barn fire in Manheim Township. Tanker 39 supported operations by participating in a tanker shuttle, hauling water from a nearby fill site to supply suppression units at the scene.

With many agencies still committed to the barn fire, a first-alarm house fire was dispatched shortly before 4 p.m. in East Lampeter Township, just off Route 23. Rescue 39 responded on the initial assignment. Engine 63 (Lafayette) arrived from their standby location and confirmed a working garage fire, prompting the request for the “working fire dispatch,” which added Tower 39 to the response. GSFR units assisted briefly before being released by Command 62 (Witmer).

As Rescue 39 and Tower 39 were clearing the house fire, a fire alarm at the Motel 6 on Lincoln Highway was upgraded to a building fire after reports of smoke on the first floor. Due to their close proximity, Rescue 39 and Tower 39 added on to the assignment before the full dispatch was transmitted, joining other units also clearing the previous fire. Crews traced the smoke to a guest who had been cooking inside their room, and the incident was quickly scaled back.

GSFR39 reported that units cleared the scene and returned to New Holland following a demanding afternoon of consecutive emergency responses.