VILLAGE OF POLAND, NY - An electrical problem will cost the Poland Fire Department hundreds of thousands of dollars in the near future, says Chief Scot Burritt. That's because earlier today Poland firefighters got a shock when they opened up their bay doors.
They were about to respond to a call for wires down around 12:45pm, but instead found smoke pouring out of their own agency.
Burritt says the cause originated as an electrical problem in the Rescue Unit located inside the building.
Newport Fire responded and the flames and smoke was contained quickly, but not before damaging all of the Poland trucks to some degree, and the building itself as well.
"It's still unclear how much damage has been sustained," said Chief Burritt. "We'll be evaluating the equipment and structural damage over the next several days."
Then, a turn for the better... an entire community of firefighters came together in a show of solidarity to help them out.
Volunteers from Newport, Schuyler, East Herkimer, Frankfort, Frankfort Center, Mohawk, Salisbury, and many others spent hours cleaning up equipment this evening.
Chief Burritt said Poland's firefighters are out of commission for at least the next 24-36 hours, but after that, they will be volunteering at nearby Newport, Deerfield, Remsen and Barneveld agencies.