Hometown suspect gets jail time

Tommy Eugene Drowatzky, 32, was sentened to at least two years in prison after a trial in York County Court.

Drowatzky was charged in connection with setting the fire at the Hometown Hotel in Wrightsville back in April.

Fire update

A 32-year-old transient has been charged with arson and related charges following a Sunday morning fire that destroyed the Hometown Hotel in the 100 block of Hellam Street in Wrightsville.
Charged with arson, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and risking a catastrophe was Tommy E Drowatzky, 32, who was a resident of the hotel at the time of the fire.
He was placed in York County Prison in lieu of $100,000. The suspect suffered minor injuries as the result of the fire
York State Police, who investigated the fire, said Drowatzky admitted to starting the fire, but did try to warn other residents about the fire, after he set it. State Police Fire Marshal Patrick McKenna said that Drowatzky used an aerosol can and a lighter to start the fire.
More than 20 people were left homeless by the fire, which caused more than $500,000 damage.
Drowatzky, Columbia Police said Monday, at one time lived in the borough and was arrested several times for public drunkenness and drug charges.
The fire at Hometown broke out about 5:30 a.m. and quickly went to four alarms as firemen from Lancaster and York counties arrived.
The blaze, which was fully involved when firemen arrive, could be seen from miles away.
When the fire first broke out, there were reports that someone was trapped inside.
“That was unfounded,” said Joe Felus, a deputy chief with the Columbia No. 1 Fire Department, one of about 15 fire departments on the scene.
Firefighters were able to save two adjoining buildings from suffering any major damage.
“The firefighters did a great job in saving the other two buildings,” said Wrightsville Mayor Steve Rambler.
In addition to a bar and restaurant area on the first floor, there was a banquet room on the second floor. One of the group using that area was the Wrightsville Rotary Club. There were rooms on the second and third floors.
The history of the Hometown dates back to the 1800s.

Hometown burns

There's a four-alarm fire that broke out around 5:30 a.m. this morning at the Hometown Hotel in Wrightsville in the 100 block of Hellam Street.

The blaze could be seen for several miles with almost 20 companies fighting the fire.

Wrightsville Mayor Steve Rambler said at the scene, the Wrightsville Municipal Authority opened the gates so that water could be pumped from the Susquehanna River.

Firefighters from both sides of the Susquehanna fought the blaze.

It was the largest fire in Wrightsville since the former Electro-Platters along South Front Street burned maybe five years ago, according to those on the scene.

A house next to the Hometown suffered some damage, as did a building owned by Donsco.

We'll will update the fire information later.