The motorist who ran over a fire hose at the scene of an Oct. 23 house fire in Geistown is on the hook to pay for any damage to the hose and faces a fine of up to $300, authorities said.
Fire broke out at 6 a.m. in the 200 block of Karen Way. A 4-inch, cotton sleeve, large-diameter hose was connected to a hydrant and laid across the road when a man driving an SUV ran over the hose.
“He said he had to get to the store,” said Bob Heffelfinger, deputy fire chief for Richland Township Fire Department.
A 50-foot section of hose costs $300, he said.
Geistown police Chief Nicholas Zakucia was on the scene to get the name and address of the motorist. Local fire officials are raising the alarm about careless motorists at fire scenes after mounting news reports of firefighters across the state being injured when motorists drive over fire hoses.