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Firefighters in Spencerport were battling more than fires on Saturday night, they were working without a building because it burned down on Friday. But just because they do not have a fire house in the village, does not mean the firefighters can take a day off. They responded to two calls on Saturday and plan on doing so until they find a new station.
"Nobody wants to work under these conditions," said Assistant Chief Brian Krywy.
Only a massive pile of wood and twisted metal is all that's left of the Spencerport fire station.
"It definitely makes a challenges for us, the guys have to work a little harder and overcome some more obstacles, but everyone is working together right now,” said Krywy.
The fire house burned to the ground early Friday morning and more than half of the firefighters gear was destroyed.
"This is someone's turn out, uh coat," said Krywy as he held up a burned coat.
They did manage to save their fire trucks before the flames spread to the front of the building.
"This right here was the latter bay, the latter truck was parked right here,"said Krywy.
Without a firehouse, the firefighters are just having to make due, for now they are keeping two of their rigs in a field, where they hold their annual fireman's carnival. The field is located just blocks away from the old station, located in the center of town. The trucks are being guarded by a security company but there is not a place to store equipment here. The firefighters have been keeping what gear they have inside their cars and even changing into it outside.
Spencerport Fire Chief Chris Wood said that's going to take some getting used to.
“Everybody is used to going to the firehouse and some of em, we had one guy this morning go to the old building because it was automatic for him,” said Wood.
Despite all this, Wood said the community can be assured they are safe and he said his firefighters will still respond to every call and none of this will change how quick they get there.
"The people make the department, it's not the building," said Wood.
Assistant Chief Krywy said they are waiting for the health department to give them permission to cart the debris away. He said they do plan on rebuilding in the same spot. For now, they are focusing on equipment and they will have a meeting Sunday night to figure out who needs what.
Republished with permission of WHEC
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