MILROY - Two local firefighters from Milroy Fire Company came to help a family in need when they were stranded without a place to stay during the snow storm on Wednesday.
Two women and three children, all from Philadelphia, tried to get a room at the Best Western, in Milroy, but the hotel was completely booked.
The women, Vissie and Keisha, two boys and a 2-year-old girl tried to travel to the Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast, in Reedsville, where rooms were available, but could not get there because of the bad road conditions and heavy snow.
Lisa Everetts, owner of Briar Rose B&B, posted a comment on Mifflin County Alerts, a Facebook page where people can post about activity in Mifflin County, and stated she had a family of five stuck at the truck stop in Milroy and they had been sitting there for an hour and a half.
Within a few minutes, Milroy Fire Co. Assistant Fire Chief Tyler Snook responded to Everetts' post asking for a phone number to contact the family.
"We saw the thing on Facebook while we were sitting at the firehouse and saw the family was stranded because of the mountain being shut down." Snook said, "It said they had a couple kids here and I said to my buddy, Jon Rook, we have to go help them."
Snook traveled to Tom's truck stop, in Milroy, with Rook, a friend and fellow firefighter, and found the family huddled together in the front seats trying to sleep in their vehicle in the parking lot. Snook explained he was from the Milroy Fire Co. and was there to help them get to the bed and breakfast.
"We did what any other person would try to do," Snook said.
Rook drove Vissie and Keisha's vehicle with Snook following him to ensure they arrived safely at the bed and breakfast.
When Snook, Rook and the family arrived at Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast, Snook and Rook handed Everetts money and said the Milroy Fire Co. would like to pay for their stay. Everetts was shocked and said she would rather the fire company keep the money but the firefighters insisted the money was put toward the family's room.
Everetts said the family was exhausted and extremely greatful for everything the firefighters had done for them.
Everetts proceeded to comment on her original post on Mifflin County Alerts that her father and brother were volunteer firefighters in her home town of Punxsutawney and she wanted to personally acknowledge Snook and Rook's wonderful act.
