Firehouse Dedication Held 1 Year After Devastating Fire

GROVETON (KDKA) -- On Sunday, it was time to celebrate at the Robinson Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Groveton.

Firefighters, families and friends rededicated their newly rebuilt fire station. On June 21 of 2015, an electrical fire broke out inside one of the bays of the station.

"Well when I went out the back door and looked out, the first two bays of the garage the flames were 20, 25 feet off the top already," said volunteer firefighter Steve Campbell.

Campbell lives across the street. He tried to fight the flames with a garden hose. But he and two others needed the fire truck parked inside. He braved thick smoke, went inside and started the truck.

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"The door would only go up three feet," he said. "I just floored it, she popped through the door made all kinds of noise by then I inhaled so much smoke."

"We had to put our own fire out with our own truck, with no gear, we did it all in shorts and sandals, not too smart," said Robinson Twp. Fire Department Chief Kenny Kisow.

That truck was repaired, two trucks, four river boats were destroyed. The building only suffered structural damage but the walls were blackened.

"I have a whole new perspective for people's loss now, it's really different I see it from their eyes," Chief Kisow said.

The total loss was estimated at well over $800,000. But the station was rebuilt and most equipment was replaced.

"It's absolutely gorgeous, we were able to clean what we needed to clean while the fire hall was shut down and renovate and rebuild so we're ready," Debbie Dankert with the Groveton Ladies Auxiliary said.

To celebrate the occasion, volunteers observed an old tradition: pushing the truck back in the garage.