Members of the Elizabethtown, Pa. Fire Department received a rude awakening last night (June 19) as the station's smoke and fire alarms sounded. The three members at the station soon found the building filled with smoke.
"After everyone was out, they turned their focus to battling the fire," the department's spokesman Jeremy Shaffner said, adding that six neighboring stations responded to the blaze and had it controlled within 45 minutes.
The fire -- which is currently under investigation -- occurred at 11:35 p.m. and is believed to be an accidental electrical fire, originating in the bunkroom closet.
Those who suffered the most from the station fire were the department's seven live-in members, who lost all of their personal belongings, according to Shaffner. He said that damages to the building and personal property loss totaled between $150,000 and $200,000.
So far, Shaffner said neighboring departments have gone above in beyond in helping the station's members cope with their loss.
"All of the stations have called up and offered whatever we've needed," he said. "Everyone is pretty much chipping in. It's a shame when things like this happen, but it really goes to show the type of brotherhood that exists."
Shaffner said his station has received contributions and assistance from the Rheems, Mount Joy, Middletown, Rohrerstown, and Susquehanna fire departments.
As for daily operation of the station, Shaffner said once the fire was taken care of, the station went back into service at 2 a.m. and responded to a call at 6 a.m.
