MAYOR PRESENTS FIRE & RESCUE AWARDS DURING HARRISBURG FIRE SAFETY MONTH
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Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today recognized the extraordinary efforts of city and volunteer firefighters, rescue personnel, and private citizens for their life-saving actions over the past year. The awards program coincides with the city’s annual observances of Fire Safety Month.
Reed said the awards program is part of a full schedule of events and activities sponsored or presented by the City through the Harrisburg Fire Bureau (HFB) this month, including fire drills in all city schools, daycare centers and many residential and business high-rise towers. Reed encouraged all city residents to join in the observances by reviewing home fire escape plans for their families and by replacing the batteries in their home smoke detectors.
The Mayor said a key focus in the City’s fire safety education efforts will be on the safe use of portable space heaters and other alternate heat sources. "Further sharp increases in home heating oil and natural gas are forcing people to find other ways to keep themselves warm. Nationally, it is projected that as many as half of all households will be using alternate heating sources this winter. In Harrisburg, we expect that many and more. If not handled safely, this can cause fires producing loss of property and life. From overloading extension cords to portable heaters being too close to combustible materials, we want our citizens to know the basic safety tips so they stay safe and this will be a major focus in the coming days."
The Mayor said the awards presented today cover a variety of public safety events when lives and property were saved through the quick and selfless actions of civilians and public safety employees.
Awards presented include:
Citizen Commendation
- To 11-year-old Ashley Vigon, for her quick actions taken on September 2, 2008, to secure emergency medical assistance for her stricken mother, thereby saving her life.
Award of Bravery
- To HFB Lieutenants Donald W. Pelton and Brian D. Enterline, and to Firefighters Aldo A. Morelli, Charles M. Zavrel, and Jared C. Briggs, for their persistent and exemplary teamwork to locate and evacuate an unconscious fire victim from the second floor of a fully-engulfed structure in the 1300 block of Vernon Street on September 21, 2008.
Award of Merit
- To HFB Captain Samuel W. Clark and Firefighter Floyd A. Wise, for their quick evacuation of five occupants – two adults and three children – from one of the residential units involved in a multi-structure fire in the 300 block of Woodbine Street on September 9, 2008.
Unit Citations
- To HFB A Platoon – Tower 2 and Wagon 3, for their quick and resourceful teamwork to secure a vehicle which went over the Susquehanna River Bank, extricate the trapped victim and provide medical assistance on December 5, 2007, in subfreezing weather conditions. Members include HFB Captain Willis Shrauder and Firefighters Mathew H. Kuntz, Gregg W. Staub, William J. Junkin, David M. Schock and Jamie K. Marshall.
- To HFB A Platoon – Tower 2, Wagon 4, Squad 8, and Tower 1, for their quick and systematic teamwork in response to a distraught male who had attempted suicide by jumping from the South Bridge into the frigid waters of the Susquehanna River on February 24, 2008. Members include HFB Captain Willis R. Shrauder, Lieutenant Donald W. Pelton, and Firefighters Matthew H. Kuntz, Gregg W. Staub, Walter D. Simmons, Patrick V. Fuller, Constance M. Owen, Jeffrey N. Miller, Daniel O. Millan, Daniel E. Wolfe, Cedric W. Yates, and Aldo A. Morelli.
- To HFB A Platoon – Tower 3 and Squad 8, for their quick and tireless efforts to locate a young male who had jumped into the deep end of a closed and locked public pool located in the southern section of Harrisburg during the evening of May 14, 2008. Members include HFB Lieutenants Andrew J. Weaver and Brian D. Enterline and Firefighters Robert C. Sullivan, Mary Ellen Wical, Patrick V. Fuller and Charles M. Zavrel.
- To HFB C Platoon – Tower 2, Squad 8, Engine 6, Wagon 3, Tower 1, and Wagon 4, for their exemplary teamwork during the response to a multiple unit structure fire in the 300 block of Woodbine Street on September 9, 2008. Members include HFB Captain Jeffrey S. Snyder, Captain Samuel W. Clark, Lieutenants Donald W. Chesbro and Andrew J. Weaver, Firefighters Marty J. Henderson, Floyd A. Wise, Ronald E. Gallatin, David P. Gilkey, John D. Matson, Colleen G. Dunkelberger, Corey A. Stone, Steven A. Schnoke, Nicky H. Bixler, David A. Aguayo, Steven R. Vassar, Frederick J. Soulier, Nelson L. Powden, Dustin M. Ventresca, Glenn L. Sattizahn, and Volunteer Firefighters Gary Neff, Robert E. Kumpf and Nathan MacLane.
- To HFB A Platoon – Squad 8, Wagon 4, Wagon 3, Engine 6, Tower 1, and Tower 2, for their diligent teamwork which enabled fire personnel to locate and evacuate an unconscious fire victim from the second floor of a fire-engulfed structure in the 1300 block of Vernon Street on September 21, 2008. Members include HFB Battalion Chief Michael R. Horst, Lieutenants Donald W. Pelton and Brian D. Enterline, and Firefighters Patrick V. Fuller, Aldo A. Morelli, Robert C. Sullivan, Mary Ellen Wical, Constance M. Owen, Jeffrey N. Miller, Jared C. Briggs, Steven A. Schnoke, Charles M. Zavrel, William J. Junkin, David M. Schock, Brendon J. Booz, Gregg W. Staub, and Matthew H. Kuntz.
The Rev. Dennis E. Snider Customer Service Award
- To HFB Firefighters Michael E. Souder, Robert P. Lohin, and Glenn L. Sattizahn, for exemplary teamwork during the six-month design and planning of an Engine Company Operations Training Program during 2008 which is site-specific to the City of Harrisburg.
The National Service & Deployment Commendation
- "Baton Rouge Relief Operation: September 10 – 12, 2008".
For service rendered during the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. The City of Baton Rouge reported it was in desperate need of food and other supplies for its residents, and as a result, the City of Harrisburg organized a donation drive and then personally delivered the collected items to Baton Rouge. Participants include HFB Senior Deputy Chief Daniel R. Soulier, Harrisburg Police Bureau Captain Richard L. Pickles, and civilians Todd C. Gilcrist, Sr., and Michael T. Yanich.
- "Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna: August 30 – September 10, 2008"
For urban search and rescue services rendered during the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna. Participants deployed as members of Pennsylvania Task Force One include HFB Battalion Chiefs Daniel N. Hartman, Herbert M. Berger and Michael R. Horst, and Firefighters Timothy Strasbaugh, William J. Skinner, John M. Pritchett, Michael A. Feldman, Cornell N. Bradford, Stephen C. Miller, and Michael E. Souder.
- "Hurricane Ike: September 12 – 15, 2008"
For deployment to the Gulf Region in anticipation of providing urban search and rescue services needed during the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Participants deployed as members of Pennsylvania Task Force One include HFB Deputy Chief Thomas G. Murray, Battalion Chiefs Daniel N. Hartman, Michael R. Horst, Alan P. Kumpf, Captain Willis R. Shrauder, Lieutenants Donald W. Chesbro and Dennis H. DeVoe, Firefighters Gregg W. Staub, Nelson L. Powden, Timothy Strasbaugh, Stephen C. Miller, Walter D. Simmons, Matthew H. Kuntz, Robert C. Enterline, Floyd A. Wise, Timothy S. Walde, Michael A. Feldman, David P. Gilkey, and Volunteer Firefighters Russell Coyne and George Lazorchick.
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