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| Career Plans |
Stay as busy as I want to be. Joined Lewes De. Volunteer Fire Dept.2020 |
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| Why did you join the fire department? |
I was raised in the firehouse in Downingtown where my father was a life member and held all line officer positions including Chief of the Department. I lived a block away, and at one time we had a fire phone in our house. When the phone rang I was already on the way to the firehouse to watch the trucks leave. I spent a lot of my time there and the older guys would let me help clean the trucks and firehouse, pack hose and do other things as well. I literally counted the days until I could join as a junior member. I come from a family of both volunteer and career firefighters and officers, and it never entered my mind not to be a firefighter. I wanted to help those who needed us, and support my community. |
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| What are your hobbies and/or interests outside of the fire department? |
I have 6 children and currently 8 grandchildren - family time and family activities are a priority to me. I enjoy the outdoors especially the beaches in Delaware and the mountains of Northern Pa. and West Virginia. I like being active and doing work around the house and helping family and neighbors. I enjoy biking, hiking, and traveling all over the place with my wife. The southwestern part of the U.S. and in the last few years some unbelievable adventures in Europe. |
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| What do you like best about being part of the fire department? |
Serving my community, the camaraderie that the firehouse breeds, demonstrating pride in all we do, and helping the new members become comfortable and teach them what I can. |
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| What is your most memorable incident? |
I have been an active firefighter/officer in several departments in Chester County since 1973. During that time I have responded to numerous multi alarm fires, serious vehicle accidents, and quite honestly some calls that just made me shake my head or laugh. The one that means the most to me is when I arrived at a working apartment building fire in Downingtown with fatalities. As I stood on the sidewalk, my father who was Captain (Rescue 45) at the time pointed out a woman who was hanging out of a third story window and told me to "Go get her". Myself and another firefighter went up to the third floor where we forced the door. I removed the individual from the window, and carried her out to the sidewalk to be treated by EMS. |
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