Firefighters unite to overcome storm damage
MIDDLESEX TWP — The township's volunteer fire company had a long road to recovery after the roof of its fire hall was destroyed during a storm a year ago.
But now a year after the incident, the department appears no worse for the wear.
High winds and strong storms swept through southern Butler County on July 26, 2012, ripping the roof off the fire station.
“It peeled our metal roof right off the building,” said Kim Blystone, president of the fire department. “Like turning the page of a book.”
The 60 mph winds left thousands of county residents without electricity as a result of power fallen lines.
But a section of the storm seemed to only hit the station, Chief Dave Metz said.
“It hit no one else but the fire hall,” he said. “It didn't bother the neighbors or even the kitchen barbecue we had set up outside the station.”
The roof was only the beginning of the damage the station would suffer.
“It left the station fully exposed,” Blystone said. “And there were several days of hard rain after that. Our offices, social hall, and kitchen were all ruined.”
“It caused extensive damage,” she said. “The only part of the building not severely damaged was the truck base.”
The storm caused more than $250,000 in damages, Blystone said, and took more than nine months to repair.
The building got new flooring, walls, electrical work, as well as interior repairs such as replacing computers in offices and cabinets in the kitchen.
About 30 sets of protective firefighter equipment, consisting of helmets, boots, pants, and coats, also had to be replaced. Blystone said each set cost about $4,000 each.
“It ended up costing quite a bit,” she said.
Insurance covered most of the expenses, Blystone said, while Kress Brother Builders of Gibsonia handled the repairs.
While it was a timely ordeal, the fire chief said the department didn't back down.“Fire departments are resilient,” Metz said. “Everyone stepped up and we were never out of commission. I was very well pleased with everyone.”In fact, the department didn't even stop during the storm that damaged its building.“Our members were still responding to calls during that time,” Blystone said. “Our people were out on trucks tending to the need of the community.“The community was still the number one priority.”The lengthy repair process did take an emotional toll on the small department consisting of about 10 volunteer firefighters, Blystone said, but it also made them stronger in the long run.“It required all of our members, who already donate so much of their time for emergencies, to donate even more time,” Blystone said. “It brought everyone together even more. It was just a great deal of time and dedication from all our members.”But the hard work paid off.“Everything is back to normal,” Blystone said. “The hall has been completely refurbished and it's beautiful.”While admitting the storm damage is something she hopes never happens again, Blystone knows it's just part of the struggles of a fire department.“Every hurdle that comes we've got to figure out how to jump over it,” she said.Metz is adamant in his hopes it was a once in a lifetime experience.“It was a real pain in the rear end,” he said. “I hope we don't go through it again.”
