TROUT RUN, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A central Pennsylvania community is left reeling after Friday's devastating flash flooding.
Trout Run experienced catastrophic damage and its fire department was not spared.
The Trout Run Volunteer Fire Department continues to clean up the community two days after heavy flood waters rushed through Lycoming County.
The department is now at a total loss and a vital bridge is destroyed.
Rushing flood waters and debris destroyed the kitchen of the Trout Run Volunteer Fire Department.
It also caused the Route 14 bridge to collapse between the Route 15 ramp to Trout Mountain Road in Lewis Township.
"You don't want to lose your firehouse. It's your home away from home," said Trout Run Volunteer Fire Department Chief Nick Smith.
The cleanup hasn't stopped.
Chief Smith, his team of firefighters, and other surrounding departments, along with town officials and people in the community working around the clock.
"I don't know how many hours I've been up right now. Endless help. Endless food delivered and just grateful everyone is helping in," Chief Smith explained.
Documenting damage after fierce Tioga County flooding
Still needing to respond to calls, firefighters and department members will work out of these trailers for now that are shared with the town's EMTs.
Smith says thanks to AT&T, the internet has been restored.
80% to 90% of power was restored by early sunday evening, and 4600 gallons of drinking water were delivered to the town.
"The fire service is adrenaline and you have to make smart decisions in a hurry and hope to make the best decision you can," Chief Smith added.
And for Chief Smith that quick decision was to evacuate people inside the department, including earlier evacuees, right before the fire department partially collapsed.
"Myself and all the guys said it from day one we are here for the people. That firehouse could be replaced. The fire chief has to make a call and this time I made a call and it worked out,' Chief Smith continued.
Chief Smith says the fire department will look into potentially relocating and PennDOT says the Route 14 bridge at Trout Run will need to be fully replaced.
Design work on a new bridge will begin this week, but there is no timetable for when it will be built.
In the meantime, PennDOT has established a long-term detour.
