PENN HILLS (KDKA) — Penn Hills Fire Company 227 is dealing with a hefty bill after losing four fire hoses in three days from people driving over them.

In one these cases, it was apparently a driver’s thirst for an energy drink that led to trouble, according to Chief Bill Jeffcoat.

That was Monday night when they were fighting a fire at an apartment house. He says a woman ran over a five-inch thick line that was fully charged with water on her way to a gas station.

“If that was an hour before when we were actively fighting the fire, you have people inside the building that you have to pull out expeditiously and their lives are on the line all because someone wanted a Red Bull,” said Chief Jeffcoat.

The hose damaged the car’s oil pan, which left a trail of oil for firefighters to find the vehicle.

Two days before at a high-rise fire in Wilkins Township, a driver damaged three sections of hose by driving over and dragging them.

It’ll cost the volunteer force about $2,700 to replace the hoses. Money they’ve saved from fundraisers will cover it; although, they’ll try to get both drivers to pay.

As for the woman who wanted that Red Bull: “I’m glad she’s apologetic. It’s still hard for me to forgive someone when they put other firefighters lives on the line for a beverage,” said Chief Jeffcoat.

It turns out, the chief says that woman was driving without a license and driving her boyfriend’s car which had no insurance.

Both she and her boyfriend will be cited. It’s illegal to run over a fire hose.

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