Murray: third-degree burns

The owner of Zap & Co. sustained third-degree burns to 30 percent of his body in the fire that destroyed his business Thursday night, his family said Saturday.

Steve Murray, a Lancaster city business owner affectionately called "the godfather of downtown retail," was in a medically induced coma at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Delaware County.

He was listed in critical but stable condition.

Murray is expected to survive his injuries, but could be kept in a coma for at least 30 days, his wife, Elizabeth Hine, said in a telephone interview.

He's on a ventilator and needs to be sedated while his lungs heal, she said.

"The prognosis is good," Hine said. "But until we get through these first four days, we can't really tell what the extent of damage to his lungs is, or the real extent of the nature of his burns."

She said he'll undergo his first skin-graft surgery Tuesday.

Firefighters pulled Murray from the 2 1/2-story building, which housed his store and residence in the 300 block of North Queen Street, shortly after arriving at the blaze around 9 p.m. Thursday.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Lancaster city fire Chief Tim Gregg said Saturday that the partially collapsed structure is still unsafe to enter.

Hine said Murray suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns on his right arm, chest, back, shoulder and neck. Part of his face was also burned in the fire.

She said she is preparing to create a foundation for Murray to help the businessman get back on his feet.

The building at 315 N. Queen was insured, but its contents and those of a two-story warehouse at the rear, where Murray had stored decades worth of collectibles, were not.

"He lost everything in that fire," Hine said. "Thirty years of accumulating are gone."

Meanwhile, well-wishers placed a small bouquet of red roses and a card signed by members of the community at the foot of Murray's boarded-up business.

Up and down the 300 block of North Queen, business owners have posted signs encouraging passersby to "Please pray for Steve Murray."

At Rachel's Cafe & Creperie next door, the eatery was offering a "Steve Murray Special" and donating the proceeds to a Zap collection fund.

Hine said she and Murray's daughter, Katherine, are appreciative of the outpouring of support from the community.

"Just remember Steve in your prayers," Hine said. "Once he gets past this critical part, he's going to be OK. But he has a very long road ahead of him. He's going to need everybody to pull for him."

Friends have started a clothing drive to help a tenant of the building, Doug Campbell, who lost everything in the blaze.

Anyone wanting to donate medium-size shirts or size 33-34 waist pants to Campbell can drop them off at Lancaster Dispensing Co., 33-35 N. Market St., or Pop Deluxe, 6 N. Prince St.

A community gathering and prayer vigil is being held 6-7:30 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church, Duke and Walnut streets.

Staff writer Paula Wolf contributed to this report.

tmurse@lnpnews.com