Pictured above are John Alexander, Board Chairman, left and Steve Roy, President, right, presenting the Valor Award to East Petersburg Fire Co. Accepting the award are FF Roger Howard, Jr., Lt. Richard Garber, and FF Dan Howard.

On March 20th at 17:21 the East Petersburg Fire Company along with several mutual aid departments were dispatched to 6290 High Street in East Petersburg Borough for a dwelling fire.

As the Chief Officers went en-route Lancaster County Wide Communications reported numerous calls were being received and columns of black smoke could be seen from across town.

Upon receiving the dispatch several members who live or were visiting right up the street responded directly to the scene and found that dwelling attic area was heavily involved in fire with smoke pushing from the front door and a car in the driveway.

With the members not knowing if the house was occupied or not they entered the dwelling without the protection of their personal protective equipment and SCBA and found Mrs. Perry walking around in a daze in the smoke filled atmosphere and they immediately got her to safety.

Once Mrs. Perry was outside they asked her if her children were at home and she was unsure so they again entered the dwelling to perform a primary search for the possibility of children in the residence.

While the members performed a primary search, conditions were rapidly deteriorating inside. Fortunately the children were not at home but they were able to save one of the two family’s dogs before being driven out by the rapidly changing conditions on the interior.

After the fire was controlled and the investigation was started it was the determination of the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Brian Herr, the Insurance Company’s Fire

Investigator and the Chief Officers of the East Petersburg Fire Company that if these members did not stop at the scene and continued to the fire station the result would have ended in the possible loss of life.

In conclusion, the membership and I would like to recommend Lt. Richard Garber, Firefighter Roger Howard Jr. and Firefighter Dan Howard for a Valor Award at the 2011 LCFA Convention for going above and beyond the call of duty without the proper personal protection to save an individual from our community.