Fallen Firefighter Please Read.
Body: As I arrived to work this morning at my Firehouse, I was not prepared for what I was about to find out. As I wrote earlier in the bulletin titled "FALLEN FIREFIGHTER" the Fire/EMS Service lost a hero this morning. East Franklin Volunteer Firefighter, 21 Year old Kevin Appuzio made the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE that each one of us, whether we are paid, volunteer or both, are prepared to make each time we respond on an alarm.
The house fire, called in around 06:14, was at 36 Whittier Ave. The first due engine, reported to be led by FF Appuzio, stretched a line to the interior with a rescue effort also being initiated. There was confirmed entrapment of an elderly woman, and FF Appuzio and his crew found this victim within minutes. The firefighters were feet from the exit door when the floor collapsed trapping FF Apuzzio and the elderly woman in the basement, neither of whom survived.
I can say from experience that there is no pain like the pain of losing a Brother Firefighter. I did not know Kevin personally, however many of the people who are close to me did have the pleasure of knowing him. My paid fire department also has an ambulance in service 24/7, and ironically I met a Firefighter in the Saint Barnabas Medical Center ER today, who was with FF Appuzio in his last moments. Like I told him as I hugged him, every Brother/Sister Firefighter/EMT mourns for the loss of FF Kevin Appuzio, a TRUE HERO. None of us know when we will answer our "last call", but everyday we put on our uniform, we feel a sense of pride knowing we have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people we serve.
I salute you, FF/EMT Appuzio. You made the Ultimate Sacrifice and for that you Will Never Be Forgotten!!!!!
To the other four crew Firefighters with Kevin this morning: Know that what happened was part of a Greater Plan form UP ABOVE. Do not ever question the "what if's". We all do that when a major event happens in this business, but what you all did was also HEROIC. Not knowing Kevin, I can still say as a "Brother Firefighter" that Kevin would do it all again if it meant that you four made it out alive. That is what we do and the way we think. We always say to our Brothers that we would die for them, it is just the bond we are fortunate enough to share. Well, let's honor Kevin because in his own way, he held true to that promise. You men are also Hero's and never for a minute doubt one decision you made this morning. You all did your best and what you are trained to do, Rescue Victims. We, speaking for all the Firefighters and EMTs' around, are here for you and the rest of your members and families. Know that together you will make it through these tough times. Honor Kevin with your determination to eventually get back on the Engine/Truck. That is what he would want!!!!
With respect,
Firefighter/EMT Michael Hannigan
PLEASE SIGN AND REPOST. LET'S GET THIS OUT TO EVERY FIREFIGHTER/ EMT AROUND, EVENTUALLY GETTING TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE EAST FRANKLIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN SHOW OF OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.
1. FF/EMT Hannigan- Maplewood Fire Department, High Bridge Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Squad.
2. EMT H. Theissen - Union Emergency Medical Unit.
3. Dispatcher D. Harper- Union Dept. of Public Safety.
4. FF/Medic Sisbarro- Union Fire, Neshanic VFC
5. EMT Lily Rodriguez--Union Volunteer EMU
6. FF/EMT Patrick Wirkus- Roselle Park Fire/ Elizabeth Police EMS Special Operations/ Union Emergency Medical Unit
7. EMT Jillian Theissen- Union Emergency Medical Unit, MONOC
8. Kimberly Loessel- Union Emergency Medical Unit / Cranford EMS
9. FF/ EMT Matthew Hokanson- Roselle Park Fire/ Union EMU / Cranford EMS
10. FF/ EMT Michael Davitt- Cranford Fire/ Cranford EMS/Union EMU
11. Ryann Van Ronk RN - University Hospital ER
12. Paul A. Coar NREMT-P Brick City First Aid and Rescue Squad
13. Yael Nelson NREMT-P Brick City First Aid and Rescue Squad
14. Chris Boyette FF/MICP - University Hospital EMS-Newark, former East Franklin Fire Department
15. Bryan "Sprout" Galganski - FF/EMT-I - Newport News, Va Fire/EMS, FF - Hillsborough Twp Vol Fire Co..2
16. Dan Kazar - EMT - Hillsborough EMS, NJ - Somerset Medical Center EMS, NJ
17. David Quigley aka "Q" - EMT Hillsborough Rescue Squad - Hillsborough, NJ
18. Philip Buono-FF/Lieut. Elizabeth Avenue FIre Company {Franklin Twp. Fire Dist. 1}/South Bound Brook EMS
19. Dan Ruggini - FF/EMT- Finderne Fire Dept.
20. Katie Czapp- Firefighter - Wilmore Vol. Fire Dept. Station 87
21. Chris Lane- Firefighter South Stokes Vol. Fire Dept. Station 40
22. FF/EMT-Amanda Colagrosso-South Stokes Fire Dept St. 40
23. FF/EMT- Chad Stevens-Rural Hall Fire & Rescue Sta.23
24. FF/Capt.- Chris Boles-Sauratown Fire & Rescue Sta.38
25. FF - Sarah McHugh - Sauratown Fire & Rescue Sta. 38
26. FF- Jeremiah French- Slater Chemical Fire Co., Glenham NY
27. FF/ EMT Josh McCarty- Slater Chemical Fire Co. Glenham, NY Beacon Vol. Ambulance Corps. Beacon, NY
28. FF-Matt Hunt- Coldenham Fire Co. Coldenham NY
29. FF-Madeline Greig Heidelberg vol Co Pittsburgh PA
30. FF/First Responder-Interlachen Vol.Station ..4 Interlachen Fla
31. FF/EMT- City of Rochester Fire Department Vol. Station, Rochester Michigan
32. Tina Bohrer- FFII Palominas Fire, Hereford, AZ
33. Dwayne Stephenson~~~Volunteer Firefighter, Capreol, Ontario, Canada
34. William Chupela- Lieutenant FF/EMT -Volunteer - Valley Regional Fire Rescue Inc., Drums Pa.
35. Robert Senape- FF/EMT-Volunteer- Valley Regional Fire Inc. Drums PA.
36. Adam Burke---EMT/FF/Dispatcher---Luzerne County PA
37. Jason Bridge-- FF/EMT/Dispatcher-- Luzerene County PA
38. John Beattie--FF Auxiliary Fire Department--Somerville, Ma.
39. Rob Kochanowski - FF2/EMT - Dallas Fire Dept, Pa & Excelsior Hose Co ..2 Duryea Pa.
40. Brad Catto - FF/ Cecil Fire Department, Washington County, Pennsylvania
41. Jessica Lester- Cambridge Springs Vol. FD, Cambridge Springs Pa
42. Jeff DeCola-FF/ Lower Burrell Vol. Fire CO. No.
43. kelli jo gatewood- ff/emt german township fire dpt and bloomington township fire dpt IN
44. Joe Constantino Lieutenant FF/EMT - Shelton Fire Dept, Co 3
45. Lodi Volunteer Fire Dept, Lodi, NJ
46. FF Greg Alberts-Lodi Volunteer Fire Dept., Lodi, NJ; Wallington Volunteer Fire Dept., Wallington, NJ
47. FF E.j. Morano - City of Garfield Fire Department (Rescue/Engine 3) and Garfield EMS
48. Brad Steinberger- Wallington Fire fire department- Little Falls fire department Engine co. 2
49. Matt jandernal- East Franklin Fire Dept
50. Susie Dudek- Montgomery Township Fire Dept
51. FF/EMT Ast Chief Will Mullen - Hopewell Fire Dept, Sta 52
52. David Flanagan - Whitehouse Rescue Squad, 1st Lt. EMT, Morristown Memorial Hospital, ER Tech
53. Patty G - EMT Randolph Rescue Squad
54. Tiffany Perillo- firefighter Mount Arlington Fire Dept.
55. Jay M. - Lincoln Park EMS, St. Clare's Health System EMS
56. Bryan W., FF/EMT - Par-Troy EMS, Saint Clares EMS, Dover Fire Department
57.Allen Bell= Lt Dover fire, atlantic EMS Capt Dover emergency squad
58. Jason Lucas - Past Captain Randolph Rescue /EMT - ADP Parsippany
59.Jessica Bryk-Firefighter/EMT-Roxbury Fire Dept
60.Steve Norman- Lt/Firefighter Mt Arlington Fire & Rescue Co.
61. Curt Wall- FireFighter Jefferson Township Fire Dept. Co. 1
62. Jenn Cuth- Firefighter- Whitehall Vol. Fire Dept. Station 39
63. Tim Adams -Firefighter/EMT -Franklin-Bingham Fire Dept Station 13
64. Becky Thompson- Firefighter (soon to be EMT)- Sunfield Fire Dept.
65. Michael Rusing - LT/ Firefighter - Troy Fire Department Station ..3
66. Jason Ferrell - Firefighter/Paramedic - Utica Fire Department
67. Andrew LaPrise - Firefighter - Lyon Township, MI
68. Alan Novak- Professional Firefighter, Slidell Louisiana STFPD1
69. Amanda Hall - Dispatcher/Firefighter -
Slidell, Louisiana STFPD..1
70. Victoria Isfahani- Firefighter- Pearl River, Louisiana STFPD 11
71. Chris Frazier- Firefighter- Slidell, LA
72. Tony Crocker - Firefighter - Slidell, La. STFPD1 Sta. 14
73. Jack Dockery - Lieutenant - Pearl River, La STFPD 11
74. Jon Boudreaux - Firefighter - Pearl River, LA STFPD 11
75. Trevor Abney - Firefighter - Pearl River, LA. STFPD #11
Anytime a fellow brother dies in the line of duty it is our duty as his brothers to let people know about his sacrafice...
S! Firefighter K. Appuzio!
