EXETER TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT
ANNUAL VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER'S
RECONGNITION AND SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET
This annual event, which was established in 2002 to honor the men and women of the Exeter Township Fire Department, has grown to now include a scholarship program for our members. The evening includes a formal dinner and awards ceremony intended to recognize the accomplishments of the Exeter Township Fire Department and its members for the previous year. The event is open to firefighters, family, friends, and invited guests.
18TH Annual Exeter Township Firefighter's Banquet
Saturday, March 9, 2019 - The Exeter Township Fire Department. held the 18h Annual Firefighter’s Recognition and Scholarship Banquet at Double Tree by Hilton in Reading. Over 250 people attended the event.
The event included a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, an awards ceremony (including a Unit Citation), a slide show presented by Firefighter Christopher Chamberlain, a basket raffle, silent auction, open bar, dancing, and lots of FUN!! Over 80 members of the Exeter Township Fire Department attended the event with their family and friends.
Thank you to all the support of the local businesses that donated items for the raffle and auction for the evenings event. Heck Florist for the beautiful table center pieces that were given out as door prizes at the end of the night.
The Banquet would not be successful without the following Sponsorship:
Chief Sponsors: Berks Fire and Water Restoration, Customers Bank, JP Mascaro & Sons and M&T Bank
Deputy Chief Sponsors: Boscov's Department Store and General Insurance
Captain Sponsors: 10-8 Emergency Vehicle Service and East Penn Manufacturing
Lieutenant Sponsors: Aumans Funeral Home, North Star United Methodist Church and Triple H Alarm
Sergeant Sponsor: Jiffy Lube
Firefighter Sponsors: Alan Ross, Autoworks LLC, Diamond Credit Union, Fire Line Equipment, Lutz Funeral Home, MD Farrell Plumbing, Musso's Restaurant, The Spine and Wellness, and Tom-Orth towing
Special thanks to the West Reading Fire Department for keeping the residents and visitors of our area safe and allowing our members to celebrate the accomplishments of the last year.
This year’s award recipients are as follows:
Business of the Year – J.P. Mascaro
Business Contributor of the Year – RFC Social Quarters
Scholarship Award – Mark Filby, attending Penn State
Jr. FF of the Year – Madison Bickings
FF of the Year – Randy Tasker
Top 10 Responders –
Eric Lessig, Jason O’Leary, Jim Herr, Eddie Weitzel, Brian Rhein, Jeremy Emerich, Ricky Lombardo,
Christian Sixtos, Ricky Fritchman, Rich Fox
Service Awards
5 Years: Christopher Bickings, Jeremy Emerich, Patrick Gardner, Edgar Weitzel, Richard Fox, Steven Geibel, Holli Morissette,
Geneva Quattrock, Rick Quattrock, Alex Sincavage, Amanda Walker, Michael Mulhare, Christopher Shirey, Christian Sixtos-Flores,
James Wanser, Brittany Fox, Robert Hoover, Brian Otto, Marcelo Riat, Marcelo Riat Jr., Matthew Eshenaur
10 Years: Brian Rhein, Jeffrey Shilling, Andrew Addison, Michael DeTurck, James Herr, Antony Hillen, Phil Ehrlich,
Thomas Walters Jr., Christopher Chamberlain, Aaron Johnson, Barry Readinger
20 Years: George Turner, Christopher Jordan, Eric Lessig, Justin Shaffer
30 Years: Gill Morissette, Richard Boyer
40 Years: William Rohrbach, Timothy Shaffer, Robert Jordan, Michael Trievel, Kenneth Houck
Life Member Award: Robert Bechtel, Richard Boyer, Terry Francis, Kenneth Houck, Christopher Jordan, Robert Jordan, Steven Kruszewski, Eric Lessig, Gill Morissette, Scott Oxenreider, Gregory Rhein, Steve Rhoads, William Rohrbach, Justin Shaffer, Timothy Shaffer,
Travis Shaffer, Michael Trievel, George Turner
Unit Citations -
3900 Block River Road, Muhlenberg Township
On August 4, 2018, the Exeter Township Fire Department (Company 25) was dispatched to a reported Water Rescue in the 3900 Block of River Road in Muhlenberg Township. Witnesses reported a juvenile in the Schuylkill River in the area Jim Dietrich Park holding onto a tree. . After heavy rains during the days leading up to the incident, the Schuylkill River was cresting and was extremely rough. When numerous shore-based rescue attempts failed, Marine 25 was instructed to enter the raging river. Regardless of the conditions, Marine 25, under the direction of Exeter Township Fire Department, Captain Gill Morissette,, with assistance from FF Courtney Horne (Mt. Pleasant FC) managed to courageously retrieve the victim from the water and safely return the victim to the launch site, where patient care was transferred to EMS.
Rich Fox, Andrew Gable, Steve Geibel, Jim Herr, Robert Jordan, Eric Lessig, Gill Morissette, Alex Sincavage
1 Armorcast Drive (Kiewit Power Plant),Birdsboro Borough
On December 13, 2018, the Exeter Township Fire Department (Company 25) was dispatched for Tower 25, to a reported High Angle Rescue at 1 Armorcast Drive (Kiewit Power Plant) in Birdsboro Borough. Units arrived on location and reported an unconscious victim due to an electricution approximately 60 feet up in the air on scaffolding. Tower 25 was immediately placed into service by command to begin the high angle rescue operation. With a very tight set-up area and tight operating angle, Tower 25’s crew set up and used the bucket to rescue the patient from the elevated area. The patient was lowered to the ground via the bucket and patient care was transferred to EMS.
Bill Farmer, Rich Fox, Ricky Fritchman, Pat Gardner, Jim Herr, Christopher Jordan, Robert Jordan, Eric Lessig, Jason O’Leary, Brian Rhein, Chris Shirey, Alex Sincavage, Christian Sixtos- Flores, Randy Tasker
2709 Perkiomen Avenue, Mt. Penn Borough
On January 7, 2019, the Exeter Township Fire Department (Company 25) was dispatched for Tower 25, to a reported Structure Fire with Entrapment at 2709 Perkiomen Avenue in Mt. Penn Borough. Units arrived on location and reported a working fire with confirmed entrapment on the 2nd floor. Tower 25 was instructed to perform VES (Vent, Enter, Search) operations through the 2nd floor windows on the front of the residence. Exeter crews set up grounds ladders and positioned Tower 25 for rescue operations. Exeter firefighters entered the 2nd floor window, located an unconscious victim, and assisted with extricating the patient from the 2nd floor via ground ladder. The patient was brought to the ground and was transferred to the care of EMS.
Christopher Bickings, Christopher Chamberlain, Phil Ehrlich, Steve Geibel, Andy Gudinas, Jim Herr, Robert Hoover, Aaron Johnson, Christopher Jordan, Robert Jordan, Eric Lessig, Ricky Lombardo, Jason O’Leary, Brian Rhein, Jeff Shilling, Alex Sincavage, Christian Sixtos-Flores, Taylor Smith, Jeff Staller, John Thompson, George Turner
Rick Lombado from Mt. Penn – Unit Citation From Mt. Penn.
Life Saving Awards –
2709 Perkiomen Avenue, Mt. Penn Borough
While performing VES (Vent Enter Search) operations, performed successful search and rescue operations of an unconscious victim through the 2nd Floor Window from 2709 Perkiomen Avenue, Mt. Penn Borough, Berks County, PA on January 7, 2019 at 22:57 hours.
Christopher Jordan, Richard Lombardo III,Alex Sincavage, Christian Sixtos-Flores
3900 Block River Road, Muhlenberg Township
While battling the raging water of the Schuylkill River, captained Marine 25 to rescue a juvenile that was holding onto a tree in the river, in the area of Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, PA on August 4, 2018 at 14:31 hours.
Gill Morissette
This year was Chief Robert Jordan’s Retirement announcement and his last banquet as Chief at the Exeter Township Volunteer Fireman Department. Robert has over 40 years of service to the Exeter Community and was thanked by the Department along with his family. He was recognized with an award 2019 Maltese Cross Shield Plaque.
Jim Herr and FIre Fighter of the Year Randy Tasker
Jr Firefighter of the Year Madison Bickings and Chris Bickings
SAVE THE DATE The 19th Annual Exeter Township Firefighter's Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Double Tree by Hilton in Reading.
If you wish to be a sponsor or attend the banquet please see the Save the date sponsorship form or contact Shana Konek skonek@exetertwpfire25.com.