NANTICOKE, Pa. — Nanticoke's Department of Public Works garage is destroyed after a fire.
Crews were called to North Market Street around 8:30 p.m.
The foreman says a front-end loader and three other trucks were destroyed.
"We had heavy fire visible already coming through the roof. At that point, the members just went to work," said Nanticoke Fire Chief Mark Boncal.
In the daylight, Nanticoke officials got a better look at the damage.
DPW foreman Rick Josefowicz says five vehicles, equipment, and tools were lost in the fire, forcing work for his crews to come to a standstill for the day.
Kenneth James came by to see what was left of the building where he worked for 41 years.
"Back in the day, we didn't have anywhere near the equipment that they have today, and the equipment they have today, a lot of it got destroyed, and it's a shame."
Several DPW trucks weren't inside and weren't damaged, but they're going to be parked for a little while longer.
"I have no keys because all the keys were in the building when the fire started, so I'm waiting for a mobile guy to come down and cut us keys and program everything," Josefowicz said.
City officials say there's been an outpouring of support from other communities to lend some of the equipment they need to do their jobs.
Josefowicz says this building was so old and outdated that the city was already in the process of planning for a new one.
"This will definitely fast-track it, but until then, we have Newport Township to fall back on. They are going to let us work out of their building and store some of our equipment there."
A state police fire marshal was called in to investigate the fire, but officials don't believe it is suspicious.
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