Left to right: Charlie Cunningham, Rick Russo, Ed Harris, David Congini, Brian Melcer

Five members of the Neshannock VFC were recognized for their efforts during a swiftwater rescue deployment to Eastern PA in the wake of Hurrican Irene. President Chip Chamberlain and the NVFC officers presented recognition awards to Firefighter Charlie Cunningham, Firefighter Rick Russo, Firefighter Ed Harris, Captain David Congini and Deputy Chief Brian Melcer for their willingness to aid citizens in need.

On behalf of of the fire company, Lawrence County, and the Pennsylvania Region 13 Swiftwater Task Force, Deputy Chief Brian Melcer presented lifesaving commendation bars to Firefighters Rick Russo and Charlie Cunningham for their participation in a lifesaving rescue of a woman clinging to a tree in swiftwater conditions.

In Pennsylvania, each municipality’s government is responsible for providing fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of the municipality. Some municipalities provide these services by hiring firefighters and emergency medical responders as employees of the municipality.   Municipalities may also choose to recognize an outside organization to provide emergency response to the community in exchange for a fee.

In most cases, municipalities in Pennsylvania turn to volunteer fire companies to provide fire protection and some form of emergency medical response. The Neshannock Township Volunteer Company is quite similar to most fire departments in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in that its firefighters do not receive a paycheck for protecting the community.

The Neshannock Swiftwater Rescue Team was deployed to Montgomery County, PA as part of the PA Region 13 Swiftwater Task Force in anticipation of flooding from Hurricane Irene. Swiftwater Technicians Rick Russo, Charlie Cunningham, and Ed Harris were assigned on the deployment along with Captain David Congini. Deputy Chief and Lawrence County Director of Public Safety Brian Melcer was assigned command of the Pennsylvania swiftwater response.

Neshannock’s rescue boats and personnel joined with rescue teams from all over western Pennsylvania and convoyed to Harrisburg where they were briefed by Gov. Tom Corbett before being directed to a staging point at the Montgomery County Fire Academy. Throughout the weekend, water rescue teams were dispatched along with the Pennsylvania National Guard to multiple flood rescue incidents in Montgomery County and the suburbs of Philadelphia.

On one particular incident, Neshannock’s Rick Russo along with Norristown Capt. Robert Spitko braved chest-high flood waters in the midst of a heavily wooded area to rescuea woman who was clinging to a tree.

Just before weekly company drills were to begin, firefighters could see heavy black smoke billowing on the horizon to the south of the Neshannock VFC headquarters.  The City of New Castle Fire Department had all hands working at the former Shenango China factory that had long since been abandoned in downtown New Castle.

After summoning Union and Shenango Township’s to the scene for assistance, Station 100 was requested to move up to New Castle Central Fire Station for station coverage.   Engine Company 151, Truck Company 157 and Command 100 filled the move up assignment.  After covering the City of New Castle for approximately 20 minutes, Neshannock units were then requested to move to the fire scene as the rapid intervention team.