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Lt. Thorpe Receives Award |
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Written by Staff
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September 17, 2008 |
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First responders from all over eastern PA came together Tuesday evening to honor several individuals and organizations. Valley Preferred, a partnership of doctors and hospitals sponsored the evening with direct assistance from the Burn Prevention Foundation and the Lehigh Valley Hospital burn center.
In 2006, the groups launched the “Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage Award Program.” The award honors individuals in Eastern, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Western New Jersey who risked their lives to save others from a burn or death by fire. The program also recognizes individuals and groups that have done an outstanding job promoting fire safety or burn prevention education.
Fire Chief Rehr nominated Lt. Thorpe for his actions during a fire in the 18th ward on November 1st 2007. The following is an excerpt from the program booklet for the event.
Brown smoke was pouring out of the front door when firefighter Brian Thorpe arrived at a Reading home shortly before 3 am. On entering the house, he found thick black smoke hanging from the ceiling to about 3 feet above the floor. “We’ve got to find the stairs” was what Thorpe heard over his radio. “There is a woman trapped on the 2nd floor,” the report continued. Despite near zero-visibility and lots of furniture obstacles, Firefighter Thorpe methodically moved about the room using the wall as a guide until he spotted the stairwell. He alerted the other firefighters, and proceeded up the stairs. Entering the bedroom, Thorpe moved to the bed and felt for the victim, the bed was empty. “I started feeling the floor near the bed,” Thorpe said, and he found 79-year old Josephine Moczydlowski lying unconscious at the base of the bed. At the same time he heard the bedroom window being smashed out by firefighters entering from the porch roof. Thorpe carried the woman to the window and handed her to his fellow firefighters. Josephine was resuscitated and taken to Reading Hospital. Despite Thorpe’s heroic efforts she died a few days later.
The ceremony also included awards for Birdsboro firefighters and police officers for their role in removing a victim during a multiple alarm apartment fire in the town last year. At the height of that fire, Tower 1 was requested to provide assistance.
Check the Gallery for photos by Jason Batz
Video Clip by James Stoudt Jr.
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