Despite a heat index above 100 degrees, Cuba Community Volunteer Fire Department crews saved most of their equipment, but the station was left uninhabitable

CUBA, Ky. — A fire caused significant damage to the Cuba Community Volunteer Fire Department’s main station on Aug. 13.

The department described the loss as heartbreaking as crews dealt with a structure fire at their own facility, WPSD reported.

| WEBINAR: Building better stations on a tighter budget

Fire Captain Joseph Siedel said he was home when the alert came through, leaving him in disbelief.

“When I realized it was our department, I left as soon as I could,” Siedel said. “This place is like your baby. It’s your life. It’s a secondary home. You’ve been here with your family building trust in a career.”

Despite a heat index above 100 degrees, crews were able to save most of the department’s equipment.

Siedel said the kitchen, chief’s office and communications office were destroyed, while the training room and electrical system also sustained extensive damage.

He said it remains unclear whether the station can be repaired or will need to be rebuilt. An insurance surveyor will assess the building, which is currently uninhabitable.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The union unanimously censured Gov. Abigail Spanberger after she vetoed legislation that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for firefighters, EMS personnel and other public employees

UC Merced researchers found the share of homes destroyed after wildfire exposure rose from about 3% to 18% over two decades despite efforts to harden properties

Hambden Township officials face scrutiny over financial oversight of a fire department that receives nearly $800,000 a year in public funding

Euclid Fire Department handled more than 13,000 incidents in 2025, with EMS calls accounting for most of its workload as officials seek to keep ambulances available for emergencies

ImageTrend announced a leadership transition as the company accelerates AI-powered product development and expands its software platform for EMS, fire, healthcare and public safety agencies