A Main Line medic station went up in flames overnight leaving multiple ambulances damaged.
Two people in the building called 911 after flames broke out around 2:15 a.m. Friday at the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lower Merion and Narberth Ambulance - Medic 313 station along Sibley Avenue in Ardmore, Pa.
The cause of the blaze that left five ambulances damaged -- one nearly completely gutted – and an evacuation bus waterlogged wasn’t immediately clear. It did appear that the fire began in the rear of the gutted vehicle, according to investigators.
“No other vehicles are burned up but we have heavy smoke damage and water damage in the bay area and then there’s smoke damage throughout the building,” said Lower Merion Fire Department Chief Chas McGarvey.
The damage could have been worse if not for the sprinkler system installed at the station
“(The fire) set the sprinkler system off, which contained it to that area and saved it from going any further,” said McGarvey.
Fire crews could be seen pushing water out of the ambulance garage once the flames were extinguished.
McGarvey said vehicles would need to be thoroughly cleaned and inspected before being put back into use.
The volunteer ambulance unit serves parts of Montgomery County including Lower Merion, Conshohocken and West Conshohocken, according to its website.
The EMS company hoped to bring in rental vehicles so that they could continue service.
Photo Credit: NBC10 - Chris Cato