Allentown to name fire academy in honor of former assistant fire chief

Allentown City Council voted Wednesday night to approve a resolution to name the Allentown Fire Academy in memory of former Assistant Fire Chief Christopher J. Kiskeravage. Kiskeravage began his career with the Allentown Fire Department on March 25, 1996, and served 23 years before retiring as Assistant Fire Chief of Training in 2019. Deputy Fire Chief Christian Williams said Kiskeravage succumbed to occupational cancer about one year ago. “He was well known and beloved throughout our region and much has been said about his impact on fire and EMS in our region and abroad,” Williams said. “Our fire academy is much more than just a building and is made up of people, instructors, firefighters, and paramedics all working and training together to be better public servants."
WFMZ-TV 69 Allentown

Child hurt, 4 displaced after fire damages Philadelphia funeral home

A child was injured during a fire at a North Philadelphia funeral home overnight. The fire started at the Pennick Funeral Home along the 2300 block of West Montgomery Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Responding firefighters spotted flames on the third floor of the 3-story building as well as on the roof. The firefighters battled the flames for about a half hour before the fire was brought under control around 2 a.m. A child received medical treatment at the scene and was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Four people were also displaced from the home. The Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
WCAU-TV NBC 10 Philadelphia

A vintage fire truck bell may soon sound again in Leetsdale

PHOTOS: A piece of Leetsdale fire department history has made its way back to the borough. Mary Jane Wasco, daughter of the late Fire Chief Charlie Wasco, donated the bell of a 1937 Ahrens-Fox fire truck that was driven by her father for many years. She presented it to council and borough firefighters May 9. “Hopefully it can serve in some way as a memorial to all those men and women through the years who have served Leetsdale as a fire person,” Wasco said. “I’m happy that it’s coming back to where it started, with the borough.” The chrome bell was on the passenger side of the truck and was struck when crews would respond to emergencies. Most trucks in the 1930s did not have the loud sirens like more modern vehicles and those in operation today. Wasco said her father bought the truck from the borough in the early 1970s.
Sewickley-Herald

Beloved McCandless fire marshal honored by fellow first responders following unexpected death

VIDEO: First responders from across the region and Allegheny Country gathered Tuesday night in McCandless to honor former McCandless Fire Marshal Dan Stack, who passed away unexpectedly last week. A “last call fireman service" was held at the George A. Thoma Funeral Home Tuesday night. “What do you say about a legend?” Highland Volunteer firefighter and former chief Mark Pierson said. At 51 years old, Dan Stack had devoted 35 years to the fire service, first as an Ingomar and Highland Volunteer Firefighter and eventually as McCandless fire marshal, and security director for North Allegheny School District. It’s his passion for life that his fellow firefighter and lifelong friend, Michael Delucia said he’ll remember most.
WTAE-TV ABC 4 Pittsburgh

Biannual training exercise & evaluation for nuclear accident held in Lawrence County

VIDEO: In Lawrence County emergency officials and volunteers took part in an exercise to test their response should a nuclear accident take place in Pennsylvania. It is a scenario where they hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Local Fire Departments and the Lawrence County Department of Public Safety took part in a preparedness exercise at Mohawk High School. The mock scenario they must respond to is a general accident at the Shipping Port Nuclear Power Plant in Beaver County. Those who were exposed would pass through this detector. "Every two years we are evaluated by FEMA to make sure we can receive people being evacuated from Beaver County. They will come to this location, walk through a portal monitor to make sure they have not received any contamination from the power plant," said Chad Strobel, Public Safety Director for Lawrence County.
WFMJ-TV NBC/CW 21 Youngstown

60-year-old woman killed in Leechburg house fire

VIDEO: A woman died in a house fire in Leechburg on Tuesday. The Armstrong County Coroner's Office said in a news release that 60-year-old Betty Bail died in the house fire on Logan Avenue. Officials said she was found dead inside the home in the kitchen area. Her two dogs and two cats also died in the fire. Four fire companies were called to the home at around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, and the coroner said there were no signs of foul play. The home was severely damaged by the flames, including extensive damage in the kitchen and living room. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the state police fire marshal and Leechburg police. "She kept to herself a lot, but she was friendly," neighbor Joan Baxter said. "We'd talk on the back fence all the time. This has to be sad."
KDKA-TV CBS 2 Pittsburgh