Fire, EMS crews honored for saving fellow first responder

Yahoo

12-06-2025

WINDBER, Pa. – Longtime firefighter Bryon 'Lou' Fleck has dedicated his life to saving lives.
But as the Northern Regional volunteer fireman arrived on scene for a Central City house fire Feb. 18, Fleck said he never imagined his own life was at risk.
Moments after using his radio to alert fellow crews that the home was fully involved in flames, Fleck fell to his knees while a fellow firefighter was working to attach a 5-inch water line.
'Everything just went black,' said Fleck.
Fortunately for Fleck, a team of first responders stepped in that frigid morning. Colleagues from two fire departments and Conemaugh Township EMS were recognized as heroes Wednesday – by Fleck and Southern Alleghenies EMS Council Executive Director Jordan Anthony.
Anthony credited the group's 'swift, skilled and selfless actions' for reviving Fleck that day.
'You didn't just respond to a call; you answered the call of duty in the most personal way possible, by fighting to save a fellow firefighter – a colleague, a brother,' Anthony said.
The CPR Save Award was presented to eight responders Wednesday. Six of them were in attendance and greeted with a handshake from Fleck at Northern Regional Fire Department.
The list included Central City firefighter Nick Muha – who performed CPR on Fleck moments after he fell – Northern Regional Chief Mike Horvath, Northern Regional Assistant Bob Statler, Lt. Devon Newcomer and firefighter Martin Washko, as well as Conemaugh Township EMS staff Aiden St Claire, Jake Berkey and Tuker Tirko.
'I never expected I'd go through anything like this,' Fleck said. 'I appreciate everybody who worked on me.'
Central City Fire Department and nearby assisting departments were dispatched to the Lohr Street residence at approximately 1 a.m. – and already had to deal with sub-zero temperatures when Fleck collapsed.
The fire claimed the home's occupant, and crews spent eight hours battling the fire.
Muha said Fleck went into cardiac arrest and had no pulse.
Two bystanders helped Muha pull Fleck onto a flat area.
Muha said he grabbed shears from his gear and began removing layers of Fleck's clothes to render aid.
He performed CPR until Conemaugh Township EMS responders, including Berkey and Tirko, arrived and loaded Fleck into an ambulance to continue treatment.
According to Fleck, he was revived after the first time the team used their defibrillator.
'They saved my life,' he said.
'They were in the right place at the right time – and it was meant to be them.'
They also had the 'right training,' Jordan and Conemaugh Township EMS manager Terry Ruparcic said.
Ruparcic noted that first responders receive annual training to respond to cardiac events, plus other ongoing life-saving training.
He credited two bystanders that day – who responders have yet to identify – for assisting at the scene. He also urged members of the public to receive CPR training for sudden emergencies.
The next time someone goes into cardiac arrest, it may be a friend or family member, he said.
'Quick actions ... save lives,' he said.
Fleck knows that better than most.
'It could be anybody,' he said.
David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TDDavidHurst.