As Andy and Lee Impola remain hospitalized, friends, neighbors, and coworkers got together Friday to sort through memories and feelings of the July 4 explosion.
The brothers were seriously burned in an explosion and fire at Lancaster Lakes apartments, related to the construction of illegal fireworks, police said.
‘Andy’s my friend ? he means a lot to me,? said Elaine Hanes, co-worker who organized a candlelight vigil Friday evening.
‘He means a lot to me,? Hanes said.
Hanes said she resigned her landscaping job in response to the incident.
‘I don’t want to be associated with an irresponsible company,? she said. ‘They have a duty to make this a safe environment for residents. They didn’t.?
Andy Impola has been with Lancaster Lakes? maintenance department for two years, said Leslie Chase, regional director for Lancaster Lakes.
Fireworks of any kind are not permitted on the apartment property, Chase said.
‘Our biggest concern is him ? the rest will go through the process,? she said. ‘A garage can be rebuilt ? our thoughts and prayers are with them.?
Neighbors gathered to pray, sign posters with get-well messages, and share their thoughts and experiences of the Fourth of July fire.
‘I thought it was a firework,? said resident Ashley Flowers, who lives at Lancaster Lakes with her grandmother, Joyce Catanzarite
‘I thought it was going to spread, like a domino effect,? Flowers said. ‘I went running back to my apartment to get my son.?
‘I saw a major fire, explosion after explosion,? Catanzarite said.
Andy Impola was set to enter the Air Force Reserves on July 21, to work maintenance for a flight squadron, Hanes said.
‘He told me that duty called ? his family has a military background,? she said.
Lancaster Lakes resident Daniel Dinkins said he was sitting at his kitchen table when the maintenance shed about 40 feet away exploded.
‘When it went off, the blinds blew in, ‘whoosh,?? said Dinkins, who lived at Lancaster Lakes for about seven months. ‘It sounded like a stick of dynamite going off in the dumpster.?
He ran outside and helped the brothers escape from the fire.
‘I only slept 35 minutes last night. It was all I could see. Unbelievable,? he said.
About 50 residents converged on the scene immediately following the explosion. Some took photos with cell phones and cameras, but many rushed to bring blankets and towels to help extinguish the flames on Andy’s clothes and body.
‘There were fireworks in the shed ? bottle rockets were going off,? he said.
‘Thank God kids weren’t riding their bikes,? Catanzarite said.
Moving in this past May, this was their first Fourth of July at the apartments.
‘It was very difficult,? Catanzarite said.
‘We didn’t want to go see any fireworks,? Flowers said.