PORT WASHINGTON (SPECTRUM NEWS)— The La Pointe Fire Department lost its fire station back in March.  Now, after months of recovery, the fire department is operational thanks to the help of other departments across the state.

"I got here within 10 minutes and the whole structure was down except for one wall," Town of La Point Administrator, Lisa Potswald said.

The volunteer fire department, located on Madeline Island was considered a total loss after a massive fire, along with everything inside it.

"We lost seven fire department vehicles, two ambulances, one of which was brand new," Potswald said.

The department’s firefighting gear and all other equipment needed to serve the 250 people on the island was gone too.

"It's got to be one of the most frustrating and devastating things a fire chief could go through," Port Washington Fire Chief, Mark Mitchell said.

However, from the ashes hope began to rise as fire departments across the state held out a helping hand.

"We ended up having enough equipment and gear to have our ambulance service and our fire department operational within 39 hours," Potswald said.

But all of the giving… didn’t stop there.

"We offered the old one to them as a donation,” Mitchell said.

Port Washington Fire Chief, Mark Mitchell says once he heard the news of the fire he knew his department could step up and help by donating one of their old tanker trucks.

"I sent him a text and he was very touched that we would do that," Mitchell said.

The 1986 tanker will be making the trip on Sunday for La Pointe fire fighters to pick up and take home as their own. This act of kindness has left many in the town speechless including town administrator, Lisa Potswald.

"That was absolutely amazing. They don't know us, we don't know them but I think it's certainly a statement of the dedication that volunteers and professional firefighters have to one another," Potswald said.

But as it turns out, Port Washington shares a bit of common ground with the La Pointe Fire Department. The Port Washington fire department actually experienced a fire of their own in their department back in the 80s.

"It was during the day, it was spotted pretty quick and the fact that we managed to get our trucks out. We did have some damage, we lost and ambulance, which is where the fire started," Mitchell said.

A simple donation from one volunteer department to another is now allowing La Pointe the opportunity to continue to serve its community while they wait to rebuild.

"The firefighting community is a wonderful community and we are very thankful for all of the response that we've gotten," Potswald said.​