Above and Beyond: Youngstown VFC holds 114th installation; first-responders honored for live-saving actions

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Photos by Kevin and Dawn Cobello, K&D Action Photo and Aerial Imaging

It was a celebration of service to community and all that entails, as members of the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co. held their 114th installation Saturday, Feb. 1, at the firehall.

The event included swearing-in ceremonies for the YVFC membership, including fire company officers, exempt organization officers, and ladies auxiliary officers. Fire company officers taking their oaths were Greg Robertson Sr. as YVFC president; Gary Bowman, vice president; Kristen Acome, recording secretary; Timothy Wilkesmore, treasurer; Nicole Quarantillo, financial secretary; Scott Szarejko, James Pollow Jr. and James Acome, trustees; and Michelle Robertson and Greg Robertson Sr. as delegates.

Exempt organization officers include Eric Wieland, YVFC chief; Greg Quarantillo, first assistant; James Panton, second assistant; John Mies, third assistant; Todd Muller, truck captain; James Acome and Donald Hermanson, captains; Zac Wilkinson, lieutenant; Wendy Shaw, line secretary; Suzanne Burrows, EMS captain; Timothy Fogarty, EMS lieutenant; Peter Kaminski, fire police captain; Alan Reid, fire police lieutenant; Fogarty, health and safety; Timothy Wilkesmore, steward; and Michelle Robertson, chaplain.

YVFC award recipients recognized for active service included: Andrew Hanna, Eric Wieland, Emily Wilkinson and Zac Wilkinson – five years of service; Suzanne Burrows and Jeremy Ringvelski – 10 years; Peter Kaminski – 20 years and life membership; James Pollow Jr. – 15 years; and Todd Muller – 40 years.

David Smith was honored as a 10-year member of the YVFC exempts organization; with Jeffery Ripson, Greg Robertson Sr. and Michelle Robertson cited for 15 years of service. YVFC Ladies Auxiliary honorees included Kirsten Acome and Julie McCall, 10 years; and Linda Reynolds, 20 years.

The highlight of the evening was recognition of select YVFC members as “Firefighters of the Year” for their efforts in saving two lives in 2024. Phil Richardson, an EMS liaison with Catholic Health, EMS coordinator with Tri-Community Ambulance and Niagara County Emergency Services, and also a fire company member in Bergholz and Wheatfield, spoke of “the phenomenal work” YVFC responders and members of the Upper Mountain Fire Co. provided in saving two people experiencing cardiac arrest.

According to the fire company reports, “John was running a 5K race at Fort Niagara 1/1/2024 when he passed out and fell to the ground. A clinical research nurse determined he had no pulse starting CPR, a retired nurse and physician assistant helped with CPR while John’s wife gave rescue breaths. Our EMS crew was dispatched; our crew immediately asked for Upper Mountain ALS to the scene. EMS administered 3 shocks and 2 doses of epinephrine. His heart returned to spontaneous circulation prior to arrival at St. Mary’s. John recovered.

“On 10/2/2024 Sue from the Dory was having a conversation with Susan in her shop. When Susan went unresponsive unconscious. Sue immediately called 911. EMT Oliver Clark was getting a hair cut across the road he immediately responded to the scene helping with CPR. Our other EMT Dylan Thompson was at the hall at the time of the tones he immediately asked for Upper Mountain ALS to the scene. Once the crew was on scene, they administered 2 shocks continuing CPR. Susan was loaded into our ambulance at that time Upper Mountain arrived and assisted. On arrival of St. Mary’s, they analyzed again requiring another shock, shock was administered Susan which brought her back she was taken in the hospital. Once she was put in a room the nurse came out to tell the crew she was doing good.”

Commenting on their actions, Richardson said, “(They) had two sudden, cardiac arrest calls that (saw) positive discharge from the hospital, not to a nursing home, but home. To have even just one of these to celebrate every five or 10 years … would be phenomenal. But Youngstown had two in 2024. That’s phenomenal.”

All in a days’ work for members of the YVFC – a real community asset.

YVFC crewmembers were recognized as “Firefighters of the Year” for their life-saving actions in two cardiac arrest incidents.

Cardiac arrest survivors John and Sue are shown with EMS guest speaker Phil Richardson.

Fire company officers take their oaths from Assemblyman Angelo Morinello.

Porter Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston congratulates the YVFC Ladies Auxiliary members.