PHOTO - Quick thinking by an off-duty firefighter saved some Wampum fire equipment Tuesday night.
Assistant Wampum Fire Chief T.J. Edinger was driving home from work at 11:27 p.m. Tuesday when he saw smoke coming from the corner of the Wampum fire station at 709 W. Church St. He discovered the department's squad car, a 2006 Ford Expedition, was burning.
"I made the 911 call," he said.
Then he jumped on a fire engine parked next to the burning vehicle, pulled it out, and began fighting the fire.
Shortly after, multiple fire companies began arriving to assist, including New Beaver, Ellwood City and Chewton. Two other departments were en route but told to turn around as the fire had been brought under control, he said.
The departments were on the scene until about 2 p.m., although Wampum firefighters, including Chief Charles Kelly Jr., were still there Wednesday morning, 12 hours later, as state fire marshals investigated.
There were no injuries.