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Police vehicles on Route 209, entering Middleport, Pa., escort hearses carrying the bodies of New Tripoli firefighters who died in the line of duty Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. )
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2 firefighters killed in Schuylkill County house fire

Republican-Herald via AP

2 firefighters killed in Schuylkill County house fire

First responders across the Lehigh Valley on Thursday offered their condolences to the families and friends of two New Tripoli firefighters killed Wednesday in a Schuylkill County house fire.

Marvin Gruber, 59, and Zachary Paris, 36, members of the Community Fire Company in New Tripoli, were both killed after working a Wednesday evening blaze in West Penn Township near Tamaqua.

Both men were pulled from the home and taken to St. Luke’s Hospital Miners Campus in Coaldale, where they were pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m.

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Another person was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in woods behind the house at 1121 Clamtown Road. Initial reports said it was a resident of the house but state police said the person’s identity was under investigation.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday morning ordered the commonwealth flag to fly at half-staff at the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex and all state facilities to honor Gruber, Paris and a third firefighter, all of whom died in the line of duty this week.

The third firefighter, Kurt Keilhofer, of the Mapleton Fire Department in Huntingdon County, died Tuesday after he was struck while responding to a vehicle accident in Union Township.

“The commonwealth flag shall be lowered immediately, until the time of their interments which have not yet been set,” according to a news release from state officials. “All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.”

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Members of the Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors said they were deeply saddened by the deaths.

“We are grateful for the sacrifices of the brave volunteer firefighters who risk their lives to protect our community,” according to a statement from the governing body. “They are there for us in our greatest time of need. As a rural community, we often pool our resources and work together so a loss for a neighboring township is a loss to us all.

“We offer our support to New Tripoli Fire Company, Lynn Township and all those affected by this unthinkable tragedy.”

Below, read more tributes to the firefighters:

“The Allentown Fire Department extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the two New Tripoli firefighters who died today in the line of duty,” city officials posted on Twitter.

“Rest easy brother. We’ll take it from here,” said firefighters in Maryland in a Facebook post, where Paris was a member of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Service.

“These brave men encountered intense fire and succumbed to the conditions while trying to perform a rescue of a citizen. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten,” a Facebook post from Allentown EMS said.

The Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company wrote: “Assistant Chief Zachary Paris and Firefighter Marvin Gruber from New Tripoli Fire Dept gave the ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family , friends and fellow firefighters to these 2 heroes. Godspeed brothers.”

“All of us here at Bethlehem Township Police Dept are saddened to hear of the tragic loss of these two brave volunteer firefighters who tragically died while trying to rescue persons believed to have been trapped in the fire,” Bethlehem Township police posted. “Marvin Gruber was well known to our officers...he was the Assistant Security Chief at Northampton Community College. We mourn the loss of these brave men and pray for their families.”

“These men knew the risks they took every time the alarm rang, and they still answered the call,” posted New Tripoli Bank. “We are so very fortunate to have such brave men and women willing to put their lives on the line to protect our community.”

Greenawalds Fire Company, which also serves South Whitehall Township, posted: “They perished in the same way they lived, serving their communities with love and kinship for their craft, their brothers and sisters, and the people they serve.

“While we mourn their loss, we will celebrate their lives and their incredible example they have provided so many.

“As a close mutual aid partner of Station 17, we stand ready to provide any and all available support or resources. More than anything, they need all of our love and all of yours. Please keep all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.”

First Published: December 8, 2022, 11:38 a.m.
Updated: December 8, 2022, 1:24 p.m.

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Republican-Herald via AP
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