Staff writer
sbeveridge@observer-reporter.com
FINLEYVILLE - A handful of former Finleyville fire chiefs happened to be in the fire hall when a blaze broke out across the street Monday morning.
The four men are credited with helping to save the two-story apartment house from ruin after food was left too long on a stove.
"We kept smelling electrical smoke," said Russ Allridge, 80, one of the former chiefs.
Allridge and another fireman split off to see if something was burning in the fire hall at the same time the tones sounded for a fire about 10:30 a.m.
Smoke from the nearby fire was being drawn into the building through the air conditioner, he said.
Firefighters from nearby New Eagle and Library were quick to assist in putting out the fire in the house owned and occupied by Nicholas Frosini.
The fire damage was contained to the first-floor kitchen of the two-story apartment, Finleyville fire Chief Sam Lytle said. There was smoke and water damage in the hall and up a stairway to the second floor, he said.
The fire chiefs who were already there helped to roll out hoses and direct traffic while the younger firefighters arrived and put out the fire, Lytle said at the scene.
The men, who include Tim Kegel, Scott Crayton and Harry Lytle, had gone to the fire hall to count the money that was raised at their firemen's fair.
"The timing was perfect," Allridge said.