SAM HARTLE
Courtesy The Derrick
'' It's part of the job, yes.''
Tim Dunkle, a Rocky Grove fireman and representative of the Pennsylvania
State Fire Academy, spoke Friday of the tragedy that struck Rocky Grove Fire
Department and Sugarcreek Borough when Andy White was killed Thursday while
battling a blaze.
Dunkle was the spokesman for the department during a Friday afternoon press
conference at Rocky Grove fire hall. Acting fire chief Tim Heller and fire
depart ment board president William Hoobler also were on hand in front of
several members of the department and the community to answer questions.
Dale '' D.J.'' Miller, 23, another Rocky Grove fireman, received
second-degree burns to his face, head, neck and hands during the fire at the
home of Albert and Virginia Zinz on Keely Road.
Miller remained in satisfactory condition Friday evening at Northwest
Medical Center. He also took part in physical therapy Friday.
Virginia Zinz was home when the fire started but escaped injury with the
help of her visiting daughter. Albert Zinz was not home.
The cause of White's death was still undetermined Friday evening even though
Venango County Coroner John Greggs and an Erie forensic pathologist worked
more than five hours on the autopsy.
Greggs has ruled out trauma and smoke inhalation as reasons for White's
death, and he indicated White was physically fit to be a fireman.
The coroner said he hopes to have the autopsy completed by the first part of
next week. Those involved in the autopsy now are awaiting toxicology
reports, which include White's blood work.
'' (The Line of Duty Death) autopsy is very intense,'' Greggs said. '' It
took us more than five hours today.''
The '' Line of Duty Death,'' a required national protocol for this type of
death, covers every possible aspect of death and also examines the victim's
equipment, gear and clothing.
Authorities also have not disclosed the cause of the blaze, but Terry Zinz,
son of Albert and Virginia Zinz, said he was told the cause was electrical.
Courtesy The Derrick
A black ribbon draped across the fire department's doors, flowers and White's fire boots and helmet form a memorial in front of the station for the fallen volunteer. |
Dunkle read a prepared statement at the 4 p.m. news conference Friday and
answered a few questions from area news outlets.
'' We don't have a lot of answers yet,'' Dunkle said.
When asked how it feels to lose one of his firemen, Dunkle responded, '' As
you would feel if you lost someone in your family.''
Dunkle said theirs is a tightknit, family environment at the fire
department.
'' We don't know yet,'' Dunkle said on how the department will move on.
White, 27, a construction la borer with Reck Construction Inc., was the
first fireman killed on active duty in the 66-year history of the Rocky
Grove department. He was a lieutenant with the department.
He was the first Venango County firefighter killed in the line of duty since
June 1970, when Dave Depew, a member of Cornplanter Volunteer Fire
Department, died in the explosion and fire at the former Amalie Re finery
along Route 322 in Sugar creek Borough.
White comes from a family of firefighters and was active in the department
since he was 13 years old. His father, John, was a former chief with the
department and now is a second assistant chief. His sister, Mary Beth White,
is an active firefighter and his wife, Allyson White, is an emergency
medical technician.
White's mother, Darlene White, is an active member of the ladies auxiliary.
White was with the department for 14 years.
'' Andrew's wife said that he was a very loving husband,'' Dunkle said. ''
He very much enjoyed what he was doing in the fire service.''
Fire departments from the four counties surrounding Venango are watching the
Rocky Grove cover age area on six-hour shifts until after Monday's
firefighter funeral. They are sleeping on cots in the fire hall and are
eating food prepared by community members.
'' It's what we would do for them,'' Dunkle said. '' It feels good. It is
nice to know the family is there.''
Doctors were close by, according to Heller, and will be avail able for
several days after the funeral if members of the department need to talk to
someone.
'' (Firemen) give themselves to their community,'' Dunkle said while
seemingly fighting back tears. '' They have to be kind of special when you
consider every body else runs out of a burning building and they go into
it.''
Friends will be received in the Huff Chapel in Franklin from 7 to 9 p.m.
today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
The firefighter funeral will start 11 a.m. Monday with a service at Rocky
Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church. A procession will follow the service and
travel to Route 322 and through Sugarcreek, ending at Peters Cemetery.
The procession will include a hearse and family vehicles, but the bulk will
be made up of between 150 and 300 pieces of fire apparatus, Dunkle said.
The fire department will have a members-only meeting at 1 p.m. today at the
fire hall.
The family has suggested donations be made to the American Cancer Society or
the Rocky Grove VFD.
American Cancer Society
10 West Front St.
Oil City, PA 16301
Rocky Grove VFD
29 Shuffstall St.
Franklin, PA 16323
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