2007 News
October 12, 2007
Bucks County Commissioners, Fire Services Leaders Celebrate National Fire Prevention Week Events
Opening with an Oct. 3 proclamation to members of the Bucks County firefighting community that declared Oct. 7-13 “Fire Prevention Week” and October as “Fire Prevention Month” throughout the county, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners continues to underscore its commitment to first-responders.
On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 6, moments after the sun descended behind the county courthouse rotunda, families and colleagues of the 21 Bucks County firefighters killed in the line of duty over the last century were honored during a poignant battery-powered candlelight vigil. As the names of the fallen were read, Commissioner James F. Cawley, Esq. presented a wood-and-glass encased Bucks County flag to either a relative or member of the firefighter’s company. Robert Hedden, past fire chief of Falls Twp. Fire Company No. 1 and co-chairman of the Bucks County Fallen Firefighters Memorial Committee, joined Commissioner Cawley at the podium. Hedden asked that the rotunda be known as the “Hall of Heroes,” a fitting gesture given the pictures of fallen firefighters placed in windows throughout the circular facility.
“On the day they thought less of themselves and more of others, they became a true hero,” Cawley told the families and uniformed firefighters gathered in the darkened rotunda.
The Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremonies reconvened at 10 a.m. on Oct. 7, as scores of firefighters marched behind the Doylestown Fire Company Honor Guard and the Emerald Society of Bucks County & Montgomery Counties Loch Rannoch Pipes & Drums. Gathered around the monument bearing the fallen firefighters’ names, ceremony participants included Hedden and keynote speakers U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy and Cawley. During his remarks, Cawley again thanked the families for paying the ultimate sacrifice. He mentioned how one family member had thanked him following the candlelight vigil, leading him to ponder the true meaning of honor.
During both events, the invocation and benediction were delivered by Chaplain Joseph Black of the Warminster Fire Department. The courtyard ceremony, which was held on a gorgeous early fall morning, included the Roll of Honor for the 2006 Pennsylvania Fallen Firefighters and the reading of the 21 Bucks County Fallen Firefighters. Each name was followed a single bell ring, tolled by Bucks County Fire Marshal Nicholas Rafferty.
Rafferty thanked Commissioners Cawley, Charles H. Martin, chairman, and Sandra A. Miller for their year-round commitment to fire prevention and training, which includes the ongoing construction of a Class “A” burn building in Doylestown that will be a regional model upon its completion.
Serving as a leader in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Rafferty and his staff have been a driving force in developing the commonwealth’s Juvenile Firesetter Intervention effort across the state. Since 2000, Rafferty has been an active member of Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann’s Task Force on Juvenile Firesetting. In that role, Bucks County has been instrumental in the development of a statewide protocol on the subject, delivering a series of two-day workshops across the commonwealth.
“Presently, I am working with Commissioner Mann's office to deliver a second series of workshops across the commonwealth, leading those now established programs in the further development of the education curriculum that is critical to their success,” Rafferty noted.
Commissioners Martin, Cawley and Miller pledge their continued support for the firefighting, police and EMS communities, adding that they have planned a significant announcement with regard to the first-responder community later this month.
Following is the list of Bucks County’s 21 Fallen Firefighters, who were honored last weekend in the Hall of Heroes and at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial:
Walter L. Moore, Foreman:
Bristol Fire Company no. 1, Station 51
On April 21st 1915, Foreman Moore was killed in the line of duty while his apparatus he was riding in was struck by a train while responding to house boat fires.
Willis Sames, Fireman:
Perkasie Fire Company, Station 26
On April 1st 1926, firefighter Sames was killed in the line of duty when his apparatus he was in crashed while going to a drill in Quakertown.
Jacob C. Crouthamel, Fireman:
Perkasie Fire Company, Station 26
On April 1st 1926, firefighter Crouthamel was killed in the line of duty when his apparatus he was in crashed while going to a drill in Quakertown.
James F. Hurley, Fireman:
Yardley-Makefield Fire Company, Station 0
In April 1949, firefighter Hurley was killed in the line of duty on box 0-1, when he was crushed between the ladder truck and the fire station bay door.
William Bell, Fire Police Captain:
Warrington Fire Company, Station 29
On January 19th 1964, fire police captain Bell was killed in the line of duty while directing traffic at an accident scene.
David S. Rubright, Assistant Chief:
Levittown Fire Company no. 1, Station 32
On November 15th 1969, Assistant Chief Rubright was killed in the line of duty with a heart attack shortly after performing search and rescue on box 32-4, 16 narcissus lane.
Walter D. Miller, fireman:
Croydon Fire Company, Station 11
On September 28th 1970, Firefighter Miller was killed in the line of duty while operating on box 11-34, falling from the apparatus at State road and Cedar Avenue.
Rudolph W. Bisler, Fireman:
Feasterville Fire Company, Station 1
On April 8th 1971, firefighter Bisler died in the line of duty after a suffering a heart attack while driving an engine to a fire at the Phoenix Swim Club in Lower Southampton Twp.
Robert Roberts, Fireman:
Hartsville Fire Company Station 93
Watson Eyre Wright Jr., Fireman:
Warwick Fire Company Station 66
On Dec 7th 1974, Died in the line of duty of a heart attack after returning from a dwelling fire.
Henry Costello, Fire Police Captain:
Line Lexington Fire Company, Station 60
On October 21st, 1975, fire police captain Costello died in the line of duty on box 60-01, the hillside inn 1903 Bethlehem pike.
Wesley Evans, Fireman:
Bristol Consolidated Fire Company, Station 50
On December 12th, 1975, firefighter Evans died in the line of duty of a heart attack while operating on box 53-35, 332 Cleveland Street.
Geary Von Hoffman, Fireman:
Falls Township Fire Company no. 1, Station 30
On April 26th 1976 firefighter Hoffman was killed in the line of duty while operating on box 30-41 when an flashover occurred at the St. George’s Diner on Lincoln highway.
John S. Buranich III, Fireman:
Edgely Fire Company, Station 10
On November 10th, 1976 fire fighter Buranich died in the line of duty from injuries which occurred on July 23, 1976 while responding on box 10-36,.
Julian R. Bley, Sr. Assistant Chief:
Bristol Fire Company no. 1, Station 51
On June 8th 1984 Assistant Chief Bley was killed in the line of duty when he was electrocuted on box 53-16 at the Purex Corp, Radcliffe Street.
Thomas J. Gibson, Fireman:
Union Fire Company, Station 37
On March 6th 1985 fire fighter Gibson was killed in the line of duty when he fell from an aerial ladder while operating on Box 11-33.
Stanley R. konefal, fire chief:
Cornwells Fire company no.1, Station 16
On November 15th, 1986, Chief Konefal died in the line of duty when he was overcome by fumes while operating on box 16-4, 1154 Tennis Avenue.
Milton E. Majors, fire police captain
Union Fire Company, Station 37
Tom Graver, Fire Police Captain:
Feasterville Fire Company, Station 1
On February 19th 1974, Fire Police Captain Graver was killed in the line of duty while directing traffic at Street Road and Pennsylvania Blvd.
Nelson “snooky” Margerum, fire chief
Yardley-Makefield Fire Company, station 0
Chief Margerum died in the line of duty on March 15th, 1992 after suffering a heart attack while operating on box 0-5, 326 big oak road.
Walter F. Vaughan, fire police officer
Warminster Fire Company, station 90
On November 13th, 1999 fire police officer Vaughan was killed in the line of duty while directing traffic on box 92-36, 1575 west street road.