MT. EDEN, Ky. — Volunteer firefighters vowed Tuesday night that insurance and their own determination would help them rebuild after a fire destroyed a firehouse.
WAVE reported that the Fire Board of Trustees voted to open a $100,000 line of credit for equipment purchase in case insurance money doesn’t arrive quickly.
The fire caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the building, trucks and other equipment. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire, according to the report.
“It means a lot to us that people — we don’t even know where they are (from) or who they are — are offering up equipment to help us out,” Lt. John Butler said. “You can’t even put that into words what that means.”
New medical equipment will be the first priority, because the SUV used for medical runs burned in the fire. Firefighters from surrounding counties will respond with Mt. Eden crews for now, according to fire officials.
The Taylorsville-Spencer County Fire Department was one agency that offered a fire engine to assist the Mt. Eden firefighters.
“You hurt for a fellow brother or sister firefighter who’s going through that,” Taylorsville-Spencer County Fire Chief Nathan Nation said. “There’s going to be tremendous support for them to get them back on their feet.”
Nation, who was among the crews that responded to the fire, said he could see “heartbreak” on the faces of some of the Mt. Eden firefighters.
“There were a few tears shed,” said firefighter Harold Herndon, who has served as a Mt. Eden volunteer for 35 years. “But we’re a strong bunch, and it may make us stronger.”