Members Recognized By Valley Township For Recent Life and Property Saved

 
By Captain Adam Grossman
October 16, 2007
 

On Tuesday, October 16, 2007, Fire Chief John Sly and Firefighter Terry Wilkinson were in attendance at the monthly Valley Township public meeting. On this night, both men were to be recognized for recent life and property saved in Valley Township. Also to be recognized were Battalion Chief Mike McWilliams and Firefighter Bob Pacana which could not attend due to work obligations.

On Thursday, September 6th, 2007 the Westwood Fire Company Ambulance was alerted to the Valley Township building for an unknown medical problem happening in the front parking lot. Chief Sly was actually enroute to the Township Building for administrative business before this incident transpired. Upon the arrival of Chief Sly to the incident, he found Police Chief Joe Friel and Codes Enforcement Officer Bill Webb in the parking lot of the facility performing CPR on a victim. Chief Sly immediately notified the Chester County 911 Center of a cardiac arrest in progress and began defibrillating the patient using equipment carried in his vehicle with assistance from Mr. Webb and Chief Friel. The patient was brought back to life and transported to Brandywine Hospital with Medic 93. All parties involved did a great job.

All three men involved in this traumatic incident received citations from the Valley Township Board of Supervisors for their excellent work and quick response to save another citizen of the Township.

On Tuesday, September 18th, 2007, Firefighter Wilkinson was traveling down Valley Road on his way home from work in Parkesburg when he noticed smoke in the area of Park Avenue and Valley Road in Valley Township. He stopped to investigate and located flames coming from the first floor of a multiple occupancy apartment building at the corner of South Park Avenue and Valley Road. Firefighter Wilkinson immediately contacted Battalion Chief McWilliams who notified the Chester County 911 Center to dispatch the appropriate resources for a building fire.

Firefighter Wilkinson then responded to the firehouse, drove the fire engine to the scene of the incident and began deploying hose lines to extinguish the fire. At this point he was met by Battalion Chief McWilliams and Firefighter/EMT Pacana where they entered the structure and contained the fire to the bedroom where the fire began. The fire was brought under control in 14 minutes from the time of dispatch and saved the rest of the apartment complex from the potential damage that it could have received.

Due to the quick actions of Firefighter Wilkinson, Battalion Chief McWilliams and Firefighter Pacana, these three men also received a citation of recognition from the Valley Township Board of Supervisors.

Job well done!