Vigilant Hose Company Receives Unit Citation for Life-Saving Outcome
Tom Ward
Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services recognized Vigilant Hose Company personnel Monday morning, April 25, 2022, for their efforts in rescuing two individuals trapped in a house fire on March 29 in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. A Unit Citation was presented for “The quick and decisive actions displayed by the personnel on Ambulance 69 and Engine 61 [that] significantly contributed to the positive outcome of this incident and make those recognized most deserving of this Unit Citiation.”
The crew on E61 (Engine) included Assistant Chief Josh Brotherton, EMS Captain Frank Davis and FF Michael O’Donnell. While enroute they were updated by a Fairfield volunteer (Chad Fogle) who lives nearby that there were two people trapped on a porch roof and there were heavy first conditions surrounding them.
E61 arrived and dropped their supply line down the driveway and proceeded with A69. Assistant Chief Brotherton instructed FF Arrowood off of A69 to put the deck gun from E61 into service and begin hitting the fire. AC Brotherton and FF O’Donnell began placing ladders against the trapped occupants and removed them from the roof where they both received care from FF Hartlaub on A69 and the medic from Adams Regional EMS.
“As chief of Vigilant Hose Company I want to again personally commend these crews and all the membership for the outstanding job you do every day to protect Emmitsburg and the surrounding communities,” Chief Chad Umbel said.
“As President of the VHC I am extremely proud of what our members do each and every day in partnership with our DFRS partners assigned to Emmitsburg. We are proud to provide Fire/Rescue/EMS services to Emmitsburg and surrounding communities and are grateful for this outcome. Having state-of-the-art apparatus and equipment is key to our operation and we are grateful to the Emmitsburg community and all our supporters for enabling us to do what we do,” stated Tom Ward.
Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services recognized Vigilant Hose Company personnel with a Unit Citation. Pictured from left are Frederick County Fire Chief Tom Coe, FF Michael O’Donnell, Frederick County Deputy Chief Steve Leatherman, FF Danny Hartlaub, EMS Captain Frank Davis, FF Tyler Arrowood, VHC Assistant Chief Josh Brotherton, Frederick County Volunteer Services Deputy Chief Shane Darwick, Frederick County Deputy Chief Kenny Poole, VHC Chief Chad Umbel.
