Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams swears in new firefighters.
Harrisburg firefighters were honored for their lifesaving efforts at an annual event on Tuesday.
The Harrisburg Fire Bureau presented awards and swore in new firefighters at a ceremony in the bureau’s Station 1 on N. 6th Street.
“Today is a day that we celebrate the acts of these members and their daily service and commitment to not only Harrisburg, but the region and our great country,” Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.
At the ceremony, Mayor Wanda Williams swore in four new firefighters, Kevin Tarapchak, Samuel Welk, Joshua Jones and Kaleb Shreiner. The new members bring the bureau’s complement of firefighters to 96.
According to Enterline, the new firefighters completed fire training at HACC and have been working in the bureau since June.
“We are grateful to have them join the ranks of our team,” Enterline said.
Also at the ceremony, Enterline announced the return of a partnership with the Harrisburg School District to have firefighters visit the district’s schools to talk with students about fire safety and career opportunities. The bureau is picking the program back up after over a decade without it.
“We really wanted to show our kids in Harrisburg that being a firefighter is a career opportunity,” said district Superintendent Eric Turman, at the event.
Additionally, the bureau awarded numerous firefighters for their lifesaving accomplishments including CPR saves and fire rescues.
The following awards and recognitions were given to firefighters in the bureau:
- CPR Save—Lt. David Schock, Billy-Bob Holtzman, Shakur Hakeem-El, Jamie Kleckner, Jonathan Morrow, Allison Shattuck, Nathaniel Barbolish, Capt. Michael Feldman, Scott Young, William Kauffman, Cory Lease, Eriq Nowlin, Lt. Jeffrey Miller, Richard Brocius, Brendon Booz, Nicholas Hurst, Hadiel Bey, Bryan Rooney, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Bobby Jones, Michael Bruetsch, Kyle Paul, Jordan Stoudt, Robert Brackbill, James Grundon, Justin Kahill, Tyler Bender, Samuel Welk
- Unit Citation—Lt. William Skinner, John Peskie, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Pablo Passalaqua, Lt. Matthew Kuntz, Gregory McDonald, Joshua Winters, Brayden Byers, Nathan Martin, Capt. Aldo Morelli, Connor Davis, Kyle Paul, Codie Schaffner, Jordan Stoudt, Garret Morey, Patrick Giberson, Lt. Brian Yonkin, Jared Briggs, Brendon Booz, Robert Brackbill, Hadiel Bey, Richard Brocius, Jonathan Morrow, Billy-Bob Holtzman
- Merit—Richard Brocius, Bobby Jones
- PA Task Force 1 Deployment—Joshua Hull, Lt. William Skinner, Brian Riddle, Benjamin Page, Zachary Miller, Capt. Aldo Morelli, Nathan Martin, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Lt. Justin Zimmerman
“Over the past year, you have saved countless lives through your quick decisions and heroic actions,” Williams said, addressing the bureau’s firefighters. “This city is certainly grateful to you.”
Enterline highlighted the fact that there have been no fatalities from fires in the city in the past two years and that the bureau responded to over 3,000 calls in 2022.
While not every action by a firefighter may receive an award, every effort to keep the city safe and informed is important, Enterline said.
“These everyday calls may seem mundane to us. However, to the 911 caller, it is probably their worst nightmare,” he said. “It gives our members an opportunity to engage and make a difference.”
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