Volunteer firefighter's (sic) answered a 911 call at their own fire house early Monday.
The place that stored their trucks, equipment and gear was gone in a matter of minutes. Volunteers said it was like battling a blaze at their own home.
An electrical problem is what the Forestville fire chief believes started MOnday morning's blaze. Flames wrecked the department's garage where it stored about a million dollars worth of equipment just west of Pottsville.
Firefighters at Forestville Volunteer Fire Department are used to getting calls in the middle of the night, but not like the one they got early Monday.
"My heart just sank," said firefighter Shannon Dewald.
"Everybody's just devastated," said Forestville Fire Chief Fred Meusel.
The garage that stored their gear and their trucks went up in flames around 12:30 a.m.
"I pulled up and it was already almost gone and it only took me a minute to get up here," Dewald added.
As flames gutted the garage, crews grabbed whatever equipment they could out of the department's four fire trucks. Only one rig was saved.
The vehicles ruined by flames include the department's new brush truck and one of the company's most prized possessions, its 1931 antique truck which holds a lot of memories for a lot people.
"The fire truck, the one from 1931. Since I was a little girl Santa would come around on it," said department finance secretary Angie Wagner.
No one was hurt in the blaze and the department's social hall next to the scorched garage was not damaged. It was in the social hall over the weekend where members held a fundraiser to help keep the department afloat.
Now, other fire companies are coming to the rescue. They've offered equipment, support and manpower to make sure when the next fire call comes in Forestville and the surrounding communities are safe.
If you'd like to help the Forestville Volunteer Fire Department, donations can be dropped off or mailed to First National Bank, 260 Sunbury Street, Minersville, PA. 17954.
A state police fire marshal will try to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire.
Republished with permission from WNEP-TV
Forestville Citizens Fire Co.
