Monongahela Fire Department Flooded

MONONGAHELA, Pa. (WPXI) — After heavy rain came through our region, the Monongahela Fire Department pumped more than three feet of water out of their basement Thursday night into Friday morning. For the past few months, the fire department has been dealing with flooding problems because of a broken pipe that sits underneath a nearby railroad track. Aaron Leezer is the chief of the fire department, and says he and the other firefighters are constantly wondering if each storm will bring more flooding. It wasn’t until after midnight that the fire department was able to get all the water pumped out. The problem is underneath the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that sit between the Mon River and the department. There’s a pipe that needs to be repaired, and it causes all the water to back up — and go down into the department’s basement. State Senator Camera Bartolotta heard about the issue and met with the department and city council to see what can be done. Bartolotta is also reaching out to Norfolk Southern herself. Since the problem is right underneath the railroad tracks, the city needs extra permission to make repairs they need to to stop the flooding.