Multiple Fire Companies Fight Blaze that Destroyed Walnut Meadows Community Center

Tony Keown was outside landscaping his yard at 62 Wood Hollow Drive in Walnut Meadows Sunday afternoon when the faint smell of smoke caught his attention.

“First, I thought it was one of my neighbors having a cookout,” he said. “Then, it got stronger.”

He looked toward the retirement community clubhouse, and there was the source of the scent.

“There were balls of smoke coming out of the entrance,” he said.

Inside, a group of ladies was playing cards, and another group of men was playing pool.

Keown ran inside through the entrance.

“Smoke was coming up everywhere, and flames were starting to come through the floor,” he said. “All I could (see) were flames coming through the floor as I go through the entrance in the open hallway.”

He ran in and told everyone there was a fire, and they all raced out, he said.

“In the meantime, one of the ladies called the fire department, and her friend called management,” Keown said. “There was so much excitement.”

Towamencin Vol. Fire Company Chief Dean Miller confirmed there were residents inside at the time of the fire.

In about 45 minutes following the 4 p.m. call, six fire companies knocked out  the blaze.

Walnut Meadows is located off Detwiler Road near Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. The community center is visible from the Lansdale turnpike entrance.

“The fire marshal is investigating,” said Miller. “Somewhere in the entryway or vestibule is the location of the origin of the fire.”

The front of the building was completely charred and destroyed. Piles of charred insulation surrounded the building, and a pile of books from the community center library were piled with their singed edges.

Burnt pages from Robert Andrews’ book “A Murder of Justice” were scattered on the asphalt in front of the center. Through a window, a book shelf remained intact, but through another window, the same couldn’t be said of a copier.

The peak on one side of the building was broken out for ventilation, as was one window, whose blinds changed from white to brown from the fire.

“There was a heavy amount of fire up top, and it extended into the interior of the main room,” Miller said.

Miller said the two-story building is uninhabitable.

“Areas of the floor are compromised,” he said. “It is not able to bear weight.”

He said the library and office areas were damaged, as was the main community room.

“I’m sure the place will need to be totally remodeled,” he said.

Fire crews were able to hold the fire at the intensity it was burning when crews arrived on the scene.

“We had multiple lines, and crews had it in control in under 15 minutes,” he said.

Maintenance contacted Eastern Diversified Services to board up the building, Miller said.

Towamencin Vol. Fire Co., Hatfield Vol. Fire Co., Souderton Perseverance, Harleysville Fire Co., Upper Salford Township Fire Co., North Penn Fire Co., North Penn Goodwill and Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale responded to the fire.

Towamencin Township was covered by Upper Gwynedd and Telford fire companies.

Keown said he doesn’t know what the community center's future may be.

“It looks really bad. The windows are busted out, there’s holes in the roof, and the library is destroyed,” he said. “I don’t know if they will rebuild.”

Keown said no one has thanked him for his heroic deed Sunday—yet.

“I’d hate to think what may have happened if I wasn’t outside,” he said. “It’s scary. It bothered me quite a bit. I’m happy I was in my yard at the right time."