York City, PA
No specific source or ignition point has been found for the cause of the Weaver Piano and Organ Building fire that claimed the lives of two York City firemen during mop-up operations, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Ivan Flanscha, 50, of Red Lion, and Zachary Anthony, 29, of York, were on the fourth floor of the building dealing with hot spots on March 22, day two of the fire, when it collapsed. Both veteran firefighters were killed. Two others were injured.
An ATF National Response Team was on the scene, at 127 N. Broad St., the day after the fatalities to investigate the fire and the circumstances leading to the firefighters' deaths. That team, along with York City Police Department, York City Fire Department and the Pennsylvania State Police, spent a week processing the scene and interviewing witnesses.
ATF investigators sift through the rubble of the former Weaver Organ and Piano building Sunday morning. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record
In a news release on Thursday, ATF Special Agent Charlene Hennessy, who was in York during the investigation, said that the ATF certified fire investigator determined the fire started "in an unspecified location on the first floor of the south wing.”
However, the release states, "Due to the extensive damage and lack of evidence, a specific point of origin and ignition source could not be identified, therefore, this fire is classified as 'undetermined.'"
Meanwhile, the Flanscha and Anthony estates have filed wrongful death lawsuits against an engineering company that, according to the complaint, gave the OK for firefighters to enter the building to look for hot spots.
That firm has denied any culpability in the deaths, maintaining its engineer was on scene only to advise the building owner. The building had been undergoing renovations to convert it into apartments.