By Brian C. Rittmeyer
The Valley News-Dispatch
TARENTUM, Pa. — Fire sirens aren’t the only signal for help that Alle-Kiski volunteer firefighters respond to.
On Saturday, about two dozen firefighters from four area departments answered a call to help get Highlands Meals on Wheels back in operation after a broken waterline soaked its kitchen last week, putting it out of service.
The kitchen is in a building attached to Citizens Hose Fire Hall in Harrison. Firefighters from there, Pioneer Hose in Brackenridge, Eureka Hose in Tarentum and Fawn Company No. 2 turned out in the morning to help tear down damaged drywall.
Al Ewing is chief of Fawn No. 2, but for a few hours on Saturday morning, he said he was an Indian, doing whatever work was asked of him. Turning out was simply a matter of helping those who help others, he said.
“We had to tear out the old and damaged so they could put in the new,” Ewing said.
A waterline in the wall between the kitchen and fire hall froze and broke in as many as five places. Firefighters discovered the damage on Thursday morning.
It prevented the Meals on Wheels from getting food out Friday to the 120 people it serves in Harrison, Brackenridge and Tarentum.
With the help of Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, the group expects to resume delivering food on Wednesday.
Citizens firefighters began helping repair the damage right away.
Ewing said Citizens firefighter Bob Griffin called him Friday night looking for help. Because of the short notice, Ewing said he was the only one from his department that could make it.
“The more people you can get to do something ... the easier it is,” Ewing said.
Bob Brunner, owner of Bob Brunner Construction in Winfield, is a contractor often used by Citizens Hose. He said the firefighters got done in a day what would have taken several without them, and took up to $2,000 off the cost.
Because of the extra help, work on repairing the kitchen could be done in a week, Brunner said. He did not yet know how the work will cost.
About half of the kitchen that was undamaged was sealed off from the damaged area. Damaged portions of the walls and ceiling were removed, and dehumidifiers were being used to dry everything out and prevent mold growth.
The water leak also damaged a women’s restroom in the fire hall, but priority is going toward getting Meals on Wheels running again, Griffin said.
Griffin said they were very appreciative that their fellow firefighters came to help.
“They came out full-force by making a phone call,” Griffin said. “We work together and pull together.”
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(c)2014 The Valley News-Dispatch (Tarentum, Pa.)
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