I was asked to write a history of my 45+ year involvement in the fire service. I had wanted to become a firefighter in my mid-20s but with two very young children, I didn’t want to have them wake up every time there was a fire call in the middle of the night. So by 1975 I was ready to join and applied to Allen Township Fire Company. This was a great experience learning so many new things, making new firefighter friends, attending Northampton County Fire School and the PA State Fire Academy. I started responding to emergency calls, seeing things that one only sees on the news, and seeing a few things that you can’t un-see. One incident I will never forget, we were called to a mobile home fire on Christmas morning which tragically took the life of a 2-year old boy. My son was 2 years old at the time. It left a mark on me.
While running with Allen Township, I was living in East Allen Township, and was very much aware that while East Allen received fire protection from Allen Township and other adjacent communities, East Allen did not have its own fire company. During 1976 the East Allen Board of Supervisors had formed a committee of interested residents to look at fire protection. I was happy to be part of the committee. After working with several other residents of East Allen and the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) out of Penn State, a Community Master Program for Fire Protection was developed for East Allen Township. This effort identified the need for East Allen to enhance its fire protection and set the pathway for the formation of the East Allen Township Volunteer Fire Department.
In 1977 the process moved forward and a small group of interested residents got chartered. 1978 was very busy year involving training, equipping, recruiting, fund raising and building the fire station. On 1/1/1979, the department went into operation with Richard Wolfel being the first chief. During the first week we had a working dwelling fire. We made a quick stop on the fire and saved the house. It was our first real test and we passed. The following year, I was elected chief and remained in that position for 6 years. Prior to actually going into service in 1979, I served as Deputy Chief for Training. By that point in time I had relinquished my membership with Allen Township and focused all of my efforts with East Allen.
We had a lot on our plate during those early years with continued training and equipping the organization. Recruiting members at the time was much easier than today.
As time moved forward, fire departments were called to respond to emergencies other than fires and motor vehicle accidents. As a result, we trained to become Vehicle Rescue Technicians, Haz-Mat Technicians, Emergency Medical Technicians, and other forms of specialized rescue such as Agricultural Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, High Angle Rescue, etc.
One early emergency response was to a reported motor vehicle accident, a car into a house, vehicle on fire, occupant still in the vehicle. Needless to say this got the adrenalin pumping. As fire chief at the time, I responded directly to the scene. Upon arrival the lone occupant of the vehicle was quite large and was unconscious. The vehicle was well involved with the fire spreading from the engine compartment into the passenger compartment. With all of the strength I could muster, I was able to pull the driver out of the driver’s side. About that time Norm Daniel arrived to assist. Between the two of us we were able to move him away from the reach of the flames. The driver lived, but was seriously injured by the accident.
Over the next 20 years or so, I managed to hold every line officer position in the department including captain, deputy chief and assistant chief. During this period the organization saw many changes in fire science and technology. In 2004 we went about a major renovation and expansion of the fire station to allow better training facilities, as well as to allow sleeping and eating accommodations, as well as more office space.
In 2001, I assumed the position of Fire Marshal with the primary responsibility of preventing and investigating fires to determine origin and cause. I continued with this position until 2013 when I had a knee replaced which helped make the decision step down to Deputy Fire Marshal. One major responsibility was to gather fire and emergency pre-planning data. I was also recruited by the Township Board of Supervisors to serve as Emergency Management Coordinator. To me, Fire Marshal and Emergency Management duties went hand-in-hand. I continued to serve as Deputy Fire Marshal until I retired from that position in September 2021. I continued as a member of the department but within several months was diagnosed with lymphoma.
As a side note, I should also mention that my involvement with the volunteer fire service qualified me to secure a full time position as Fire Marshal with Allentown State Hospital in 1981, and was later promoted to Safety Director in 1984.
I would like to think that over the course of past 45+ years, we have been instrumental in improving both fire safety and emergency preparedness of the residents and businesses of East Allen Township. The face of the volunteer fire service has continued to evolve over the years. It is my sincerest hope and wish the East Allen Township Volunteer Fire Department will survive and continue to fulfill its mission.
