HASTINGS — Hastings Fire and Rescue responded to a smoke call at 5:36 a.m., Wednesday Jan. 8 at 622 Lane D at Good Samaritan Society Hastings Village.
While firefighters were en route, dispatchers changed the notification to a fire call.
622 Lane D is the middle apartment in a triplex building. That apartment and 626 – the unit to the south – were each occupied by one person. Apartment 618 – the unit to the north – was unoccupied.
Each of the two occupants, as well as a pet cat, were evacuated.
One of the affected residents was later transported to Mary Lanning Healthcare with non-life-threatening injuries. One firefighter sustained minor injuries as well.
The incident was a three-alarm fire. In addition to Hastings Fire and Rescue, Hastings Rural Fire Volunteer Fire Department, Juniata Volunteer Fire Department and Glenvil Volunteer Fire Department provided mutual aid.
Hastings Police Department, City of Hastings Street Department, Hastings Utilities, Adams County Emergency Management and the American Red Cross responded to the incident.
The affected building is a total loss with damages property and contents estimated at $495,000. No other buildings were damaged.
The investigation revealed that the fire was most likely accidental and happened because of metal utensils in a running microwave.
“We do want to share our appreciation for the staff at Good Sam ensuring each unit had working smoke alarms, which alerted the residents,” HFR Risk Reduction Officer Anthony Murphy said. “We also utilized one of their private fire hydrants as our primary water source, which had been properly maintained and tested.”
