A week after a house fire that claimed the lives of a city woman and a child, Lancaster City Council on Tuesday praised the city firefighters for their bravery in trying to save the victims and for protecting other residents of the neighborhood.

Councilman James Reichenbach asked city Fire Chief Tim Gregg to pass on the thanks of the city's legislative body to the members of the Bureau of Fire.

Without the heroism shown by the city firefighters, the loss from the Feb. 18 fire could have much worse, Reichenbach said. An East Lemon Street resident, Reichenbach said he saw the flames from his back window.

"If anybody is unfamiliar with East Madison Street, those houses are slammed together and there is no doubt in my mind that if those firefighters hadn't acted so bravely, a lot more lives would have been lost," he said.

Lt. Andre Kelley and firefighters Tom Bender and Craig Robertson entered the burning house at 225 E. Madison St. in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Pauline Stone, 39, and 6-year-old Leilani Roman, who were trapped on the second floor.

Fire officials believe there was a "flashover," when all the contents of a room suddenly reach the combustion point and explode into flames.

Bender and Robertson were injured jumping from the house. Kelley was trapped inside and had to be rescued.

Kelley suffered burns to 40 percent of his body, a family member said, and is expected to be in the hospital for several months. He is recuperating at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Delaware County.
bharris@lnpnews.com