SOUTH STRABANE, Pa. — Flooding kept first responders across Southwestern Pennsylvania busy on Saturday, and it was no different for South Strabane firefighters.
Except, they conducted a large-scale evacuation close to home.
The South Strabane Fire Department says that as storms moved in and began flooding homes, flooding roads, trapping vehicles in stormwater, and triggering fire alarms and fires, members responded almost immediately.
While responding to multiple incidents across the community, firefighters learned of a “significant event” at their Oak Spring Road location — the main stormwater pipe under their parking lot had collapsed.
Within minutes, the lot filled with water and firefighters evacuated nearly 80 citizens.
The department says no one was hurt, but the parking lot collapsed and the station flooded.
“This problem will undoubtedly affect our department’s ability to host the weekly bingo, which will directly impact our ability to fund fire department operations. We kindly ask all of our residents and stakeholders to reach out to their elected officials and ask them to assist us,” the department’s post reads in part.
Last year, department officials applied for a grant to repair the same pipe system after a storm caused a large sinkhole to form, blocking access to Oak Spring Plaza and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the fire hall.
The department was awarded the funds, which were set to be distributed this fall. Repairs could not begin before the distribution.
During the storms on Saturday, the department worked with Bioni Industries to stabilize the immediate collapse hazard and slow further damage.
The department indicates that township officials may make an emergency disaster declaration.
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