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.

The Fire Department has two, one a 75-foot aerial ladder truck that is 26 years old and has been kept operational as a backup.

"With Carpentersville having a 100-foot ladder truck and West Dundee having a 100-foot ladder truck, I think it's sufficient to cover the area," Freise said. "The 75-foot ladder truck is not critical to our operation. We could sell it, and we'd be sharing resources and saving some money as far as maintenance on a third truck we don't necessarily need to have."

He was able to negotiate with Elgin Community College on a price of $60,000. Appraisal values came in between $40,000 on the low end and $60,000 on the high end, Freise said."With Carpentersville having a 100-foot ladder truck and West Dundee having a 100-foot ladder truck, I think it's sufficient to cover the area," Freise said. "The 75-foot ladder truck is not critical to our operation. We could sell it, and we'd be sharing resources and saving some money as far as maintenance on a third truck we don't necessarily need to have." He was able to negotiate with Elgin Community College on a price of $60,000. Appraisal values came in between $40,000 on the low end and $60,000 on the high end, Freise said. "With (the truck) approaching the 30-year mark, that's significant because the value goes down significantly," Freise said. "If we decide to sell it, this is the most we'd get for it. Considering our economic environment, this is a good time to sell, and at the same time it's a benefit for Elgin Community College." "With (the truck) approaching the 30-year mark, that's significant because the value goes down significantly," Freise said. "If we decide to sell it, this is the most we'd get for it. Considering our economic environment, this is a good time to sell, and at the same time it's a benefit for Elgin Community College."

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.