MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
Firefighters in Rutherford County are continuing to pick up the pieces left from an unusual fire that broke out on Thursday night.
Crews responded to a blaze at a volunteer fire station located on Elam Road just before 10 p.m.
Neighbors and a driver on nearby Interstate 24 reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the fire hall's roof.
Nashville's News 2 spoke with Assistant Fire Chief Joe Pennington who said told two firefighters managed to get two fire trucks out of the station before they caught fire.
"There was a lot of smoke in there, but with them and their equipment they could get in there real quick and got it pulled out," Pennington said.
One firefighter managed to get inside one of the bays and drive one of the trucks out, however he had to run back outside for fresh air before going back in for the second truck.
Pennington said the door to the second bay would not open and his crews had to push the truck outside.
"This is the first time something like this has happened to us, losing a fire station," Pennington said.
On Friday investigators from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department and Murfreesboro Fire Department continued to comb through the ashes and took samples for further examination.
Pennington said although the two trucks were saved, other equipment was destroyed.
"Basically nozzles, turn out gear, one of our collapsed trailers and all of our equipment in there," he explained.
Despite the fire, the community will not go without fire protection.
Officials said another station will cover the area until the Elam Road station is operational.
Pennington said they'll bring the fire truck back to the station and keep it in another bay that wasn't damaged in the fire.
