A fire has caused over a million dollars in damage to the Vine Grove Fire Department station house and its equipment.
The station caught fire sometime overnight on Wednesday, as firefighters battled the blaze throughout the early-morning hours.
The fire not only devastated Fire Station No. 3, at 203 North Mill Street, it also destroyed three fire trucks, including a 3,000-gallon tanker along with hoses and other equipment, according to a report by WDRB.com. Additionally, a fire truck from 1941 that the department used for special occasions (parades, firefighter funerals) was a total loss.
A pink fire truck parked next to the station, used for breast cancer awareness events, was heavily damaged as well.
The blaze will not compromise the response time of firefighters, as the department has two other fire stations, Fire Chief Matt Haddle told WDRB.com. Plus, there are fire departments in adjacent Elizabethtown and Radcliff that can offer mutual aid if needed.
Officials said the fire likely began with a lightning strike, but the state Fire Marshals Office is investigating.
Haddle said he thought the station suffered about $1.5 million in damage to the building, fire trucks and other equipment.
(Photo: Aerial view of damage sustained by the Vine Grove Fire Dept., courtesy of WDRB.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
