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PA Fire Lt. Michael Bastian Dies Suddenly, Leaving Infant, Pregnant Wife PA Fire Lt. Michael Bastian Dies Suddenly, Leaving Infant, Pregnant Wife
PA Fire Lt. Michael Bastian Dies Suddenly, Leaving Infant, Pregnant Wife Lt. Michael Bastian, a decorated firefighter and instructor with the Williamsport Bureau of Fire, died suddenly on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, at the age of 39, leaving behind a wife, a young daughter, and another baby on the way. Lt. Bastian was known for his passion for firefighting and dedication to teaching, training countless emergency responders across Pennsylvania. Hired by the Williamsport Bureau of Fire on Sept. 9, 2015, he was a trusted leader on “C” Platoon and a State Fire Instructor. “Michael was one of the smartest and best firemen we ever had,” his colleagues wrote in a tribute. …

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Pittsburgh Road Closures For Funeral Procession Honoring Chief Walsh Pittsburgh Road Closures For Funeral Procession Honoring Chief Walsh
Pittsburgh Road Closures For Funeral Procession Honoring Chief Walsh The City of Pittsburgh is advising motorists of road closures and transit detours planned for Monday, Nov. 25, during the funeral procession and Funeral Mass for Battalion Chief John P. Walsh. A Funeral Mass honoring Chief Walsh, who died in the line of duty last week, will take place at 10 a.m. at Saint Paul Cathedral on North Dithridge Street in Oakland. To accommodate the anticipated large gathering, Fifth Avenue will be closed from Bellefield Avenue to Wilkins Avenue from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Additional surface streets leading to Fifth Avenue will also be closed to prevent traffic from e…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Flags At Half-Staff After Pittsburgh Fire Chief Dies In Line Of Duty Flags At Half-Staff After Pittsburgh Fire Chief Dies In Line Of Duty
Flags At Half-Staff After Pittsburgh Fire Chief Dies In Line Of Duty Governor Josh Shapiro has ordered all U.S. and Commonwealth flags in Allegheny County to be flown at half-staff in honor of Pittsburgh Fire Battalion Chief John P. Walsh, who died while responding to a fire Wednesday night, Nov. 20, 2024. Walsh, 60, collapsed at the scene of a house fire on the 700 block of Wilkinsburg Avenue in the East Hills neighborhood around 9 p.m., according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. He was rushed to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “Chief Walsh tragically passed away while in command of a structure fire last night. His unwavering passion…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Series of Suspected Arsons Across Williamsport Under Investigation Series of Suspected Arsons Across Williamsport Under Investigation
Series of Suspected Arsons Across Williamsport Under Investigation The Williamsport Bureau of Police and the Williamsport Bureau of Fire launched a joint investigation on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, following a series of suspected arsons across multiple locations in the city. Authorities reported four incidents, each involving intentional fires or vandalism, throughout the day. The first incident unfolded at 5:00 a.m. at the Pajama Factory’s parking lot on 1307 Park Ave., where officers and firefighters responded to several vandalized vehicles, including one set ablaze. At 6:20 a.m., emergency responders were dispatched to the 170 Rose St. area for multiple small…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Man Who Arranged Arson Of Bucks County Warehouse Convicted: Police Man Who Arranged Arson Of Bucks County Warehouse Convicted: Police
Man Who Arranged Arson Of Bucks County Warehouse Convicted: Police A New Jersey man was convicted for arranging the 2022 arson of a Bensalem warehouse on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, according to police. Ramiz Duka, 61, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was convicted in federal court for conspiring to set fire to a warehouse located at 1388 Bridgewater Road in Bensalem on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, the Bensalem Police Department said. Duka recruited two men to set fire to the warehouse, paying them $15,000 to do so, according to police. Over the course of several weeks, the three men met and planned the arson, ultimately leading to the fire. While fighting the blaze,…

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by Merriell Moyer
News
Fallen Chester County Firefighter Remembered 1 Year After Tragic Death Fallen Chester County Firefighter Remembered 1 Year After Tragic Death
Fallen Chester County Firefighter Remembered 1 Year After Tragic Death Colin Reedy, the Chester County firefighter killed in a crash on his way to an emergency, was remembered by his community on the anniversary of his death. "Today, The West Whiteland Community remembers FF Colin Reedy as he died in the Line of Duty responding to an incident one year ago," the West Whiteland Fire Department said in a release on Sunday, Oct. 20.  Today, The West Whiteland Community remembers FF. Colin Reedy as he died in the Line of Duty responding to an incident one year ago. Posted by West Whiteland Fire Company on Sunday, October 20, 2024 Reedy was killed in a…

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by Merriell Moyer
Police & Fire
Fire Companies From 4 PA Counties Respond To Massive Barn, House Fire Fire Companies From 4 PA Counties Respond To Massive Barn, House Fire
Fire Companies From 4 PA Counties Respond To Massive Barn, House Fire Fire companies from four Pennsylvania counties battled a blaze at a barn and house fire late Friday night, Oct. 18 into Saturday morning, officials with Elverson-Honey Brook Area EMS announced.  The fire broke out in the 100 block of Isabella Road in West Nantmeal Township around 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, EHBEMS detailed in a release. The Twin Valley Fire Department was the first crew called to the scene of the fire originally reported to 911 as "a large fire in the middle of a field," but soon "Additional callers reported a possible house was on fire with a barn as an exposure and th…

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by Jillian Pikora
Obituaries
Volunteer Firefighter, Chief In PA, MD Dies Suddenly, Fund Says Volunteer Firefighter, Chief In PA, MD Dies Suddenly, Fund Says
Volunteer Firefighter, Chief In PA, MD Dies Suddenly, Fund Says A volunteer firefighter serving in Maryland and Pennsylvania for over 40 years has died "unexpectedly", a GoFundMe launched to help launch his family announced on Saturday, Sept. 7.  Chief Tracy L. Tomlinson, 57, of Kirkwood, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 5, according to his obituary posted on Shivery Funeral Home, Inc.'s website. He was born in West Grove and was a graduate of Solanco High School. The Robert Fulton Fire Company explained his career as follows: "He became a member of Robert Fulton Fire Company in September of 1983, joining…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Arrest Made In Deadly Arson In Philadelphia: Police Arrest Made In Deadly Arson In Philadelphia: Police
Arrest Made In Deadly Arson In Philadelphia: Police A 38-year-old man has been arrested in a Philadelphia arson fire that left a 66-year-old woman dead early Friday, Aug. 23, police said. Shadeek McDowell has been charged with murder, arson, five counts of aggravated assault, five counts of simple assault, and related offenses in the 4:30 a.m. blaze on the 1800 block of East Russell Street, city police said.  A very difficult morning in Kensington. PFD made multiple rescues from several homes damaged by a fire that took nearly an hour to place under control. Sadly, one person did not survive. Five people received EMS care and we…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
PA State Police Car Catches Fire On Route 80 PA State Police Car Catches Fire On Route 80
PA State Police Car Catches Fire On Route 80 A PSP vehicle caught fire on a Luzerne County highway late Monday, July 15, according to officials.  The blaze happened on Route 80 near mile marker 272.1, said White Haven Fire Company. Troopers brought the flames under control by the time firefighters arrived, and a hose was used to soak down the engine compartment, authorities said.  No one was injured, the fire company added.  Daily Voice has reached out to PSP for details on what caused the fire. 

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by Mac Bullock
Police & Fire
Crews Battle Early Morning Barn Fire In Berks County Crews Battle Early Morning Barn Fire In Berks County
Crews Battle Early Morning Barn Fire In Berks County A barn in Bally Borough caught fire around 2 a.m. Monday, July 15, according to the Eastern Berks Fire Department.  The fire at the barn, located off South 7th Street, reached two alarms, authorities said. The barn contained hay and equipment but all the dairy cows on the property were in another structure and were not harmed, the department said.  Eastern Berks Fire Dept. Excavation equipment was called to the scene to "tear apart the wreckage" and hay bales, firefighters said.  First responders were at the site for five hours Monday morning and said they would likely re…

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by Mac Bullock
News
84-Year-Old Killed In Afternoon House Fire: Philadelphia Police 84-Year-Old Killed In Afternoon House Fire: Philadelphia Police
84-Year-Old Killed In Afternoon House Fire: Philadelphia Police A Philadelphia man was killed when a house caught fire on Wednesday afternoon, July 3, city authorities said in a release.  Firefighters were called to the 2300 block of East Lehigh Avenue at 1:35 p.m., the police department said.  Citizen.App The 84-year-old victim was found unresponsive on the first floor. PFD medics pronounced him dead minutes later, according to the release. His name was not reported.  Units were still on the scene as of 3 p.m. 

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by Mac Bullock
Police & Fire
Arsonist Set Fire At Lackawanna County Building: Investigators Arsonist Set Fire At Lackawanna County Building: Investigators
Arsonist Set Fire At Lackawanna County Building: Investigators A Scranton man is charged with setting a fire at the Lackawanna County government building last week, according to city police.  Paul Howard Strope Jr., 35, is also charged with risking catastrophe and reckless endangerment, authorities said.  The 123 Wyoming Avenue fire started around 6:30 on Tuesday, June 26, Scranton police said. A meeting was in progress in a conference room when attendees smelled smoke wafting in through the building's HVAC system, according to authorities.  The building was evacuated and firefighters "conducted suppression and ventilation activities," …

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by Mac Bullock
Traffic
Flaming Jackknife Tractor-Trailer On I-95 Near Betsy Ross Bridge (VIDEO) Flaming Jackknife Tractor-Trailer On I-95 Near Betsy Ross Bridge (VIDEO)
Flaming Jackknife Tractor-Trailer On I-95 Near Betsy Ross Bridge (Video) A tractor-trailer fire shuttered part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia for hours, Pennsylvania State Police explained on Friday morning.  The tractor-trailer was already ablaze when it jackknifed on I-95 South at mile marker 25.6 in Philadelphia County near the Betsy Ross Bridge into New Jersey around 7:30 a.m. on June 28, state police detailed in the release.  The fire has been extinguished and Troop K Philadelphia Station was on the scene as of 9 a.m. The driver was able to escape.  Click the player below to see a Citizen video of the firefighters on the scene. D…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
COLD CASE: Troopers Find New Leads In PA Woman's 1997 Murder COLD CASE: Troopers Find New Leads In PA Woman's 1997 Murder
Cold CASE: Troopers Find New Leads In PA Woman's 1997 Murder State police say they are making progress in their investigation of Patricia Woll's homicide.  Woll, 43, was living on River Road in Damascus Township, Wayne County when her house caught fire on Aug. 28, 1997.  She was found dead inside after firefighters beat the blaze. A "detailed investigation" led state police to declare the fire an arson and Woll's death a homicide.  "Several new investigatory leads and evidence have been uncovered and are activity being pursued by investigators," said troopers in a release on May 31. Authorities did not describe the new evidence. …

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by Mac Bullock