|
Published: February 16, 2009 08:19 pm
CAMBRIA: Blaze destroys fire engine, damages other fire company vehicles
By April Amadon
E-mail April
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
CAMBRIA —
Cambria Fire Chief Dale Heiser could hardly believe it when he heard the call come over his scanner.
About 1 p.m. Monday, the report went out that there was a fire at 4631 Cambria-Wilson Road — the address of the main hall for the Cambria Volunteer Fire Co.
“I thought, ‘No,’ ” Heiser said, shaking his head.
Sure enough, a Cambria fire engine, which was parked in the hall’s concrete garage, had caught fire and was burning, filling the air with smoke.
In the wooden fire hall adjacent to the garage, Third Assistant Chief John Presley and firefighter Tom Kovach were in the kitchen preparing for a dinner when they noticed smoke coming from the garage, according to a sheriff’s department report.
Presley opened the garage bay door and realized the engine pumper was on fire.
“By the time they walked back to take a look, they couldn’t even open the doors,” Heiser said.
The call went out for mutual aid, and fire crews from the other Cambria hall responded, along with crews from Wilson, South Wilson, Wrights Corners and Pekin volunteer fire companies.
Cambria volunteers, who are used to fighting structure fires, were initially powerless on-scene, because they couldn’t get inside the garage to get their gear.
“Of course, it makes everybody nuts because they can’t do anything,” Heiser said. “(They) just stood there watching it burn.”
Heiser said he wanted to thank all the firefighters from neighboring companies for their help.
The engine was parked in the middle of the garage, next to a 75-foot aerial truck and two ambulances.
Crews were able to pull out both ambulances and the aerial truck, but both suffered some damage from the flames and smoke.
The engine pumper suffered heavy fire damage.
Heiser said the pumper is worth about $300,000 and is likely a total loss. The sheriff’s report listed the combined value of the other vehicles at $782,000, pushing the reported damage over $1 million.
Heiser said the company will most likely make an emergency purchase.
The county’s origin and cause team responded to the scene, and the fire is under investigation.
Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
|
|
|
|
 |
Hospitality/Tourism Instructor
Hospitality/Tourism. NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking applications for part-time instructor to teach hospita...>MORE
Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE
PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE
Marriage Counselor
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
...>MORE
BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE
MST Therapists
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
MST ...>MORE
Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE
Customer Service
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Altitude Marketing is one of Dish Network’s top national retailers and has immediate FT customer...>MORE
SHIPPING CLERK
Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE
DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, no WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE
See all ads |
Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495.
716-525-2889...>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE
Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect,
low mileage, $895.
716-525-2889...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE
See all ads |
|
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
