Two New Tripoli firefighters killed last year in a house fire in Schuylkill County were among those honored Tuesday for their bravery.
Zachary Paris, assistant chief of the Community Fire Co. of New Tripoli, and firefighter Marvin Gruber were among 24 individuals to receive Spirit of Courage Awards from the Burn Prevention Network.
Also honored were first responders from the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory explosion in West Reading.
For 18 years, the Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage awards ceremony has honored heroes and burn survivors who have helped others in the burn community. Hundreds attended the event at DeSales University; proceeds support Camp Susquehanna and other burn survivor support programs provided by Burn Prevention Network and the Lehigh Valley Health Network Regional Burn Center.
Paris and Gruber, both longtime firefighters, died Dec. 7 after they became trapped inside a burning home in West Penn Township. They had entered in search of a trapped resident and never made it out. It was later determined there was no one inside.
In addition to Paris and Gruber, Spirit of Courage awards were presented to:
- Jim Alercia, retired deputy chief, and Ken Sobieski, battalion chief, Palmer Township Municipal Fire Department; Officers John Billiard, Maurice Burton, Evan Goldstein, and Kyle Kromer, Palmer Township Police Department; Christopher Finan Jr., EMT, and Jeremy Slack, paramedic, Suburban EMS; and Dr. Thomas Stauffer, emergency room physician, Reading Hospital, for their response to the May 21, 2022, fire on Main Street
- Michael Hrebik, officer, City of Pottsville Bureau of Police, response to Arch Street fire on May 9, 2022
- Joshua Green, lieutenant, and firefighter/EMT Garry Clarke, City of Reading Department of Fire and Rescue Services, response to Oct. 15, 2022, fire on Marion Street
- Firefighter/EMTs Kevin Ayers, Kieran Dolan and Ronald Frey, City of Reading Department of Fire and Rescue Services, response to the Oct. 29, 2022, fire on Schuylkill Avenue
- Matthew McDonald, captain; Joseph Chesek, lieutenant; Nick Azzarelli, private; and Kyle Saldonis, private, Scranton Fire Department, response to Hickory Street fire on Nov. 20, 2022.
The Eleos Award was presented posthumously to registered nurse Jennifer Nagle. Pottsville fire Chief James Misstishin Sr., whose elementary school education saved a young girl, was presented the Partners in Prevention Award. The Walter J. Okunski Phoenix Award was presented to Leah John, a burn survivor who gives back to the burn community that saved her.
Finally, the Chairman’s Award was presented to all of the first responders involved in the March 24 R.M. Palmer factory explosion.
Source: Berkshire mont