by dave statter

A suspicious fire destroyed the West Lancaster Diner on Columbia Avenue in Lancaster PA around 10:00 PM on May 4th, 2011. FD units were dispatched and told to stay back as this was an arson/robbery fire and the scene was not secure. Arriving companies had fire through the roof and after a few minutes the PD notified companies that the scene was safe to begin extinguishing the blaze. By now the fire had complete control of the building. One patient was transported to Lancaster General Hospital and it was reported that he was soaked in gasoline. As the fire was being knocked down, another call came in for an armed person barricaded in a nearby home, also soaked in gasoline. PD and fire units were on the scene there and no further details were available at the time of this posting.