A NEAR-MONSOON TYPE RAINSTORM SWEPT THROUGH ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, Tuesday dumping more than five inches of rain in a short period of time. With all the storm damages such as lines down and flash flooding, the Belle Valley Fire Department was running multiple calls, mainly for rescue assists.
While they were out of the station, which is located in a basin near Mill Creek, a loose footbridge and several tree limbs came floating down the stream and created a clog and backup where it runs under a bridge. And then the water started rising at the firehouse.
Within a short time, it rose past the 3-foot depth level and eventually reached 5 feet. With so many members running calls, there was no chance to save all the tools, supplies and equipment in the station. “They managed to get the vehicles out in time. The rescue truck appears to have some damage because we believe water was sucked into the engine,” Belle Valley Fire Department Treasurer Jim Petrone told Channel 12 news.
But everything else was lost including their computers, running gear, SCBA cylinders and all of their office supplies. YourErie.com reported:
Fire Chief John Semple says as much as four to five feet of water flowed through the building and washed countless supplies and other equipment away.
Hose Company President Jeff Skonieczki says it’s too early to tell the cost or full extent of the damage right now but that it will be a huge blow for the department. In the meantime, he says the public is the first priority and that crews will still be answering their calls.
Semple says, “We’ve lost a lot of equipment, the building’s sustained a lot of damage… it’s just going to take a while before things are back to normal.”
“I know it’s going to put us back tremendously financial-wise, if we get through this. You just don’t count on this kind of damage; we could easily be looking at least a half a million dollars on up,” says Skonieczki.
As soon as the water started receding, six neighboring FD’s brought pumpers and manpower to the station and started pumping out the building and working to salvage whatever equipment that they could. Then they hosed out the station and helped get the lot cleaned up as best they could.
One lady driving by saw all the salvage activity and handed a $100 bill to one of the FF’s for a donation and then drove away without leaving her name.
With all that setback, the BVFD is still running calls and buckling down to get their station restored.
Belle Valley Fire Department WEBSITE.
Photos courtesy of Belle Valley FD and hat tip to Tom B.
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