Fired Penn. Firefighter`s Hostage Siege Ends With No Injuries

March 31--A former volunteer firefighter in Montgomery County held four fellow firefighters hostage at gunpoint in the Elkins Park section of the township Tuesday morning before being taken into custody, police said.

The hostage situation occurred at the LaMott Fire Co. on Pennrose Avenue. During a press conference after the incident was over, Cheltenham Township Police Chief John Norris said the unidentified man, who is about 30, had been fired the day before.

The suspect had a handgun, and the situation lasted for about an hour, the chief said.

"It's always the best possible outcome when nobody gets hurt," Norris said.

Before he surrendered, hostage negotiators were talking to the man by phone as the SWAT team was entering the building.

"He was very upset," Norris said. "Volunteer firefighters, especially in our township, are very dedicated people. They take it very seriously, and they do a tough job with no money.

"When you get terminated or you lose that job for some reason, it's very traumatic for the firefighter."

Norris sad the man gave up to the SWAT team without a fight.

"There were no problems," Norris said. "Everyone was taken to Cheltenham Police Department for interviews."

Norris said he was not sure yet if the four taken were targeted or if they just happened to be there when the man arrived.

"They were obviously upset," Norris said. "It's not a great situation. But they muddled through it. . . . He did release one almost right away, but he had three more."

There was one shot fired, into the wall, but no was hit, and there doesn't appear to have been any injuries, police said.

The former firefighter entered the building through an open door and took the other firefighters hostage in the basement of the building, police said. He allowed one man to leave, and police surrounded the building.

Rafael Rivera, a paver who was working in the area, said he saw police cars surround the building around 10:45. He never heard shots fired.

"Someone came out with his arms up," he said. "The team ran in, and they pulled the fire door down behind them."

A few minutes after that, they came out, and the cars began dispersing.

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