Photos: Fire Damages Historic PA Gingerbread Man Building

There is “significant damage” throughout the historic Gingerbread Man building in Mechanicsburg after a fire late Thursday night.

While coming back from another call in Hampden Township, crews were alerted to the fire in the building at 10:25 p.m., Mechanicsburg Fire Chief Gary Neff said. Firefighters were able to be at the scene within two to three minutes.

When they arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the third floor, with some fire visible in the back of the building, Neff said.

While the restaurant closed in July, there were still people living in the apartments on the upper floors.

Neff said between those apartments and the neighboring apartment building, 13 adults are being assisted by the American Red Cross. There were no injuries reported, not even to a parrot that was saved by its owner.

From the front of the building, located at 26 W. Main St., the only obvious damage was in the decorative overhanging section of the roof that was scorched and to the windows on the third floor that were broken during the firefight. Much of the decoration around the windows and on the lower floors were left unscathed by the fire.

Dozens of people watched, took photos and filmed the firefight from the sidewalks around the building.

Significant scorch marks and damage could be seen around the sides of the building and on the roof itself. The ceiling was visible through the third-story windows but all that remained was just burnt planks of wood.

Neff said the fire started in what they call the “loft area,” which is between the third floor and the roof. As of Thursday night, he had no reason to consider the fire anything but accidental; however, he is still looking for the source.

Dozens of fire companies were called to the fire and were placed strategically around the structure because the building itself is so big, Neff said. The restaurant’s main floor is 4,000 square feet and can seat 210 diners. Because of the size, fire companies were placed in different alleys and parking lots behind and around the building to contain the fire.

Neff said his crews were lucky to be unharmed because about 25 minutes into the fire he called for an emergency evacuation of all firefighters due of stability concerns.

There were weak spots in the floor, which he said could have been due to the ongoing renovations.

Neff said with the extra hazards he changed the attack to be one that focused on the fire from the outside only. Once they were able to get the smoke down, firefighters were able to go back in.

Around midnight, the remaining crews were doing overhaul of the building.

While there were no early estimates of the extent of the fire damage, Neff said he believed there would be “very significant” water damage to the lower floors due to how they had to work on the fire from the outside.

“It’s a shame because there’s a lot of ornate work inside the building and on the back,” Neff said. He reiterated that the owner was in the process of restoring the place due to its status as a landmark. It was only in the overhaul process that firefighters were able to do their work while trying to protect the historic decor.

“We’re trying to save it the best we could,” Neff said. In all, he said they were able to save the building, so that in itself was a feat.

Richard Phelan founded the Gingerbread Man chain, which would grow to as many as 19 restaurants in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The restaurants are known for dark atmospheres, lengthy menus, pool tables and smoking sections. Phelan told PennLive in June that the restaurant would close.

However, in July he said he had a chance of heart and planned to reopen it eventually.

Phelan was influential in the central Pennsylvania restaurant scene and operated dozens of restaurants including Rod’s Roadhouse, Parkside Cafe and Fast Eddie’s in Carlisle. He was joined in the business by his wife, Linda, who died earlier this year.

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