Immediately opening the truss roof saved a century-old building in downtown Coatesville on Sunday.
"Had they not done that, there would big hole there right now," said Deputy Chief Kevin Johnson.
Firefighters weren't just busy saving just any building. It was the West End fire station.
Johnson said Wednesday he was pleased with the effort that saved the block-long building. "They got the fire knocked fast…Venting that truss roof made the difference. Another 10 minutes, and it would have gone."
While repairs are made, the firefighters will be stationed elsewhere for the next month or so.
Two engines and a ladder truck in the station when the fire started are OK, and have been relocated.
Johnson said the firefighter who sustained a head injury as well as the two overcome by heat have been released, and will be OK.
On Sunday, when the career staff at West End Fire Company got a call to check out an automatic fire alarm Sunday, they didn't need to look at a map. They headed back to their station.
The station sustained about $500,000 damage.
Related: The Daily Local News
Coatesville Fire Department
