DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Trout Run Vol. Fire Dept. Chief Nick Smith talks about the plans to rebuild the fire hall recently.

Trout Run Volunteer Fire Co. prides itself on being able to respond quickly in this rural location. It is right along Routes 14 and 15, so it has many emergency medical service responses to deal with on a daily basis. In fact, the EMS portion accounts for 70 % of all the service calls.

“We average being out the door within four minutes (or less),” said Nick Smith, fire chief for the past five years.

The fire personnel here get to scenes quickly – covering locations to the north such as Cogan House Township, to the east in Gamble Township, and where it is located in Lewis Township and south into the area of Hepburnville – when necessary – as the community has Hepburn Township Volunteer Fire Co., he said.

The company faces the challenges of having to be first to respond to any mountain rescues or technical assignments. Several of the firefighters are taking rope courses, Smith said.

“We are fortunate this year where there were no major forest fires, but there is a team in place if that happens,” he said.

When asked if there were to be a flood event such as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which damaged the fire station and which resulted in a reexamination of the station needs based on insurance and Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements to get whatever building replaces it out of the 500-year floodplain.

Smith said the redesigned concept plans give him a sense of ease.

“With this being raised up and the berm being gone, I think any water that we get will go around the building,” he said.

“We are keeping it as basic as we could here,” Smith said.

“We would have to put $900,000 into this to bring it up to building code and that does not make sense,” he said.

This concept and the building plan will allow the company to grow along with its future plans and to continue to cover the area it does.

As for the finances for the station rebuild, the company is grateful for what has been received.

It is a long way toward its goal because of state legislative help, insurance, and community and business donations and those who attend or take part in the fundraisers.

The company has its insurance money kicking in, an anonymous donor with a sizable contribution, named contributors, and $1 million made available through the efforts of state Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township. Additionally, state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock, said he also will look for funding opportunities.

The fire company has communitywide fundraisers, and the next big one is a clam steam on Nov. 30. Doors open at noon with the first raffle at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $15 with meals also available for additional purchase such as steamed clams, shrimp, hot dogs and other delights.

Separately, the fire company is holding an ongoing gun raffle with proceeds going towards the new building fund.