Liberty Hose Co. No. 2 - Incident Detail #1304

Fire broke out in the basement of the Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church in Lykens at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 1954, causing between $8,000 and $10,000 in damage. The fire was caused by a defective piece of wiring in the furnace room. It spread from the basement to the north wall partition, and except for the quick response of the fire companies and the fine work of the firemen on the scene, the fire would have resulted in the complete destruction of the building and possibly adjoining properties. The fire was very stubborn and hard to get at. The intense heat and smoke hampered the firemen for some time and they were forced to use gas masks to get at the source of the blaze. Fireman from Liberty Hose Company No. 2 of Lykens were assisted by the Wiconisco Fire Company, Williamstown Fire Company, and the Reliance Hose Company No. 1 of Elizabethville. The fine cooperation between the companies was one of the reasons that damage was not more disastrous. Most of the damage was confined to the basement and the church sanctuary itself was not seriously harmed except for some smoke and water damage.

While repairs were being made for the several weeks following the fire, morning services were not held at the church. Sunday School was held in the Masonic Hall on Market Street each Sunday morning and evening services were held in Christ Episcopal Church at the corner of North Second Street and Market Street.