On behalf of his Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Soarway Foundation and the Fire Station Project, luxury watchmaker Michael Kobold visited the South Margaret Street station to personally pick up the retired truck.

According to Kobold, the Soarway Foundation was originally created in 2015 to reduce risk and better prepare the landlocked Himalayan country in the event of a natural disaster. Soarway's efforts in Nepal are led by U.S ambassador Scott S. DeLisi.

Kobold's Fire Station Project is an effort in conjunction with the Soarway Foundation.

Known for his expert watchmaking, Kobold is a Carnegie Mellon University graduate whose timepieces have attracted celebrities like explorer Ralnulph Fiennes, former president Bill Clinton and late Sopranos star James Gandolfini. Kobold Expedition Tools is inspired by Kobold's love for traveling and mountain climbing, in particular.

When Kobold's wife was unresponsive during the couple's second scaling of Mount Everest, two Nepali sherpas came to her rescue, saving her life. Out of gratitude, Kobold taught the sherpas watchmaking and opened a Kobold Watch Company facility in the Kathmandu Valley, hoping the men could continue to provide for their families and leave their dangerous jobs of mountaineering behind.

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."