Latest news with #ScrantonFireDepartment
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Authorities warn of the dangers of swimming in rivers
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — As temperatures rise, so does the temptation to cool off in local rivers, but officials warn, it's not worth the risk. Rescue crews responded to a call earlier Tuesday for a man in distress on the Lackawanna River. He was successfully removed, but fire officials say this should be a wake-up call for anyone thinking about swimming in rivers this summer. Scranton fire officials say the Lackawanna River may look calm, but it's anything but predictable. 'Any body of water is always going to be dangerous. The water is fairly cold right now, so being in there for a little bit of time, you know, their muscles can atrophy, they could drown very easily, even though it's not up that high,' Scranton Fire Department Chief John Judge said. It's not just risky for swimmers. River rescues also put first responders in danger. 'We don't have a lot of access points for the Lackawanna River. I mean, it's not designed in that manner. It's just so unpredictable depending on how quickly it's moving, you know, the turbulence that goes with it, there's, you know, fallen trees that are in there that could be an entanglement hazard,' Chief Judge explained. Anti-gang efforts in NEPA target youth The Scranton Fire Department is heavily invested in water rescue training, with certified instructors teaching life-saving techniques year-round. 'We have our own instructors here that are certified by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission that go away for training. When the initial 911 call comes in, he might be, you know, blocks away by the time we get there. So our responders know that, and they know how the water is moving, so they'll start pre-positioning resources downstream,' Chief Judge continued. Chief Judge urges people to wear a personal flotation device, avoid trespassing in restricted areas like the Nay Aug Gorge, and never swim alone. 'It's always making sure that you know people know where, somebody knows where you're at, you're not doing it alone, and you have a Coast Guard-approved PFD, a personal flotation device with you. We're in that summer season now between Labor Day or Memorial Day and Labor Day. So we'll be on our, on our guard for what's going on up there,' Chief Judge told 28/22 News. The fire chief says the best way to stay safe is to stay out unless you're experienced, equipped, and following all safety rules. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remember one of Scranton's Finest
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— The memory of a longtime fire firefighter in Lackawanna County is already living on. Thursday evening was the viewing for veteran Scranton Fire Lieutenant Kelly 'Hoppy' Hopkins. Lackawanna County and beyond is grieving the loss and remembering the life of Lieutenant Kelly 'Hoppy' Hopkins. Taxpayers footing bill for vacant properties Hundreds of people passed through Edward J. Chomko Funeral Home Thursday afternoon and evening to pay their respects to the man who lost his battle with cancer last weekend. Railroad Avenue in Scranton was lined with members of the city's fire department ready to pay their respects to one of their own. 'We're feeling heartbreak in one respect but we are at peace because there's no more suffering,' said Scranton Fire Department's Assistant Fire Chief Jeff White. Assistant Fire Chief Jeff White has been through many battles. Thursday was a moment of putting not his, but one of his closest friend and partner's battles to rest. He and hundreds of others mourned the passing of Lt. Kelly Hopkins during a viewing at Edward J. Chomko funeral home. The veteran firefighter passed away peacefully at home Sunday morning on March 16 after battling esophageal cancer. 'Every single step of the way he was not giving up without a fight,' commented Jennelle Hopkins, Daughter of Lt. Kelly Hopkins. Hopkins is survived by his three daughters and son, his wife Brittany, 10 siblings, numerous nieces and nephews and four grandchildren. 'He was always there for me no matter what and he was just that guy,' said Katie Hopkins, daughter of Lt. Kelly Hopkins. The guy, who served his community for nearly 40 years, was a member of many organizations, with a presence that will never be forgotten. 'I still hear his voice and I'm going to miss him. He's irreplaceable,' stated lt. Tim O'Conner, Scranton Fire Department. Hoppy was known for his dedication on duty, camaraderie with the community and infectious spirit that shined throughout the electric city. His fellow firefighters say he wasn't just first to the scene on the front lines, he showed up in his friendships too. 'My shingles blew off my front garage they weren't sealed properly. Couple days later he was in the driveway with his compressor, air hose, and truck and he was up on my roof putting the shingles back on,' recalled White. The dear friend to many since day one is already deeply missed, but his loved ones will look to live out his legacy. 'We're going to miss him dearly but we are going to continue to carry on how he would want us to,' voiced White. Lt. Hopkins was 63 years-old. There will be a mass of Christian burial Friday at 9:30 am at the Cathedral of St. Peter on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. Those wishing to attend the mass are to go directly to the cathedral. Sending our deepest condolences to the friends, family and fellow first responders of Lt. Hopkins. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scranton Fire Lt. Hopkins remembered as a role model
A beloved Scranton Fire Department lieutenant died Sunday after battling Stage 4 esophageal cancer, leaving a legacy as a caring firefighter in his community and a role model within his department. Lt. Kelly 'Hoppy' Hopkins, 63, died Sunday morning, Fire Chief John Judge said. Hopkins joined the Scranton Fire Department on Jan. 6, 1986, rising through the ranks to become the senior lieutenant, Judge said. 'This is a guy who loved going to work and loved being able to help people,' Judge said. 'He's touched so many people in the community.' Hopkins was a father, grandfather and second-generation firefighter. The Scranton fire union, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 60, announced Hopkins' passing in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday. 'It is with incredible sadness that SFD Local 60 is announcing the line of duty death (esophageal cancer) of member Lt. Kelly 'Hoppy' Hopkins,' the union wrote. 'Kelly was a firefighter's firefighter. He was a husband, father, leader, and a prominent community figure. You could go almost anywhere in the country and if someone found out you are a Scranton firefighter, they would always immediately ask, 'Do you know Kelly Hopkins?'' In September, the fire union organized a 'Raise some Hell for Hoppy' fundraiser for Hopkins at Montage Mountain Resort following his cancer diagnosis, where Hopkins and his family received an outpouring of support from the community. 'Hoppy was the quintessential friend to anyone and would do anything for those that he loved,' the union post said. 'During Parade Day, Hoppy's favorite, marchers would hear 'HEY HOPPY!' more times than one could count.' Scranton Fire Department Lt. Kelly Hopkins is all smiles as he marches with the firefighters during the Scranton St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE) While firefighters can become proficient in their profession through training, the ability to care like Hopkins can't be taught, Judge said. 'The caring — you either have it or you don't,' he said. 'Kelly had that from day one that he got on here until his final days.' Hopkins loved his job and was always a positive influence, viewing the Fire Department as a second family, said Judge, who worked with Hopkins for more than two decades. 'He was always smiling,' the fire chief said. 'I don't think I ever saw him angry.' Judge hopes people will take that mindset and carry it with them. 'The funny thing about Kelly is, everybody here, no matter if it's (Assistant Chief) Jeff White, who's been here 45 years, or the brand new guy who's been here a year, they all had some type of story to remember Kelly by,' Judge said. 'In the culture and the world we live (in) right now, we need more Kellys in the world to keep it a little bit lighter.' However, when it was time to deal with an emergency, Kelly was a passionate, aggressive, skilled firefighter, Judge said, calling him 'a guy you wanted to be following into places.' 'He was part of the fabric that makes up this community,' he said. New firefighters took comfort in the fact that Hopkins would make sure they made it home safe at night, Judge said. When firefighters conclude their careers, they want to be remembered as 'good firefighters,' and everyone will remember Hopkins as one, Judge said. 'He made people feel positive, and not taking themselves too seriously,' he said. 'He didn't do that on purpose — it was just his nature to smile about everything.' Firefighters will share stories about Hopkins for decades, Judge said. 'To know him well was a gift,' he said. 'His legacy will live on in the stories that we'll tell for years.'
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Smoke Eater' black firefighter became community hero in Scranton
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An ambitious young firefighter became a community hero in Scranton in the 19th century. Lincoln Sherman Tillman was the first black firefighter to receive a pension in the city of Scranton. Lincoln paved the path for other men of color to join the department with him down the road. 'They used to call him 'The Smoke Eater' because he wasn't afraid to really go into these fires, full body, and just go after it,' said Black Scranton Project Founder and CEO Glynis Johns. Lincoln, or 'Link,' first started fighting fires when he was just 16 years old. 'He started out as a teenager in a volunteer firefighting company here in the City of Scranton called 'Union Hook & Ladder,'' Johns explained. The fire company was a branch of the Scranton Fire Department organized by a group of black men in 1874. It began with 25 members at a station on Lower Lackawanna Avenue. According to an article in The Scranton Tribune in March of 1937, Lincoln recalled the start of his career, detailing there were only three other black families in the City of Scranton in the 1870s. How trailblazing Black police captain paved the way for change The men came together to form Union Hook & Ladder to battle fires on high buildings alongside nearby companies. 'It's a truck apparatus that has a series of hooks and ladders on it so that way you can get to the second, third, and fourth floor of buildings,' Johns continued. Over the years, Lincoln responded to some of the city's largest fires. His dedication to the field did not go unnoticed. 'By the year 1900, he was a pension firefighter, and from there he had a 30-year career in the City of Scranton fighting fires, people called him a hero. He saved people's cats, he saved people's grandmothers. He's literally carried, like, women and children out of burning buildings, always did it with a smile. He loved his job,' Johns explained. Lincoln's legacy was brought to life again by Johns who started a collection of historical findings on prominent black figures in Scranton in 2019. 'At the end of the day, he was a teenager and he just did it because he wanted to help, he wanted to be helping people at some of the most vulnerable and scariest times in your life,' Johns added. The Black church's role in Civil Rights and social justice continues to grow In that 1937 interview, Lincoln noted he was born to walk the path of a firefighter. His father was a volunteer firefighter and the family trade continued on through Link's nephew. 'I said 'I don't go to fires anymore.' Link chuckled. 'I leave that to my nephew, Bert Tillman.' He's with Engine Company Number 4. I guess I got all the fires I wanted in for a lifetime,' Johns said. Bert Tillman joined the Scranton Fire Department in 1917 working alongside his uncle at Engine No. 1 on Franklin Avenue. According to multiple archived newspaper articles, the Tillman's ancestors were slaves on a Virginia plantation who navigated to Scranton in the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. Bert moved to the ranks, becoming of Engineer driving Engine 1, and manning the pumps at fires before his retirement in 1955 after 42 years of service. Today, you can see his uniform dress coat displayed at the Anthracite Heritage Museum. Johns also has a collection of patches and buttons donated to her. 'I really appreciate the Scranton Fire Department for donating these patches for our archives,' Johns stated. The Legacy of Dr. James A. Franklin: 'It wasn't about color. It was about health' Thomas Hogans Junior brought his artistic talents to the department in 1965 as a paid firefighter. Hogans designed the patch worn by members of Firefighters Local 669 on their uniforms. His design is still used today by Local 60. The original layout is unchanged. All three men had indelible legacies. Not just as firefighters, but also as community leaders and activists. 'A lot of African-American men in Scranton were really active in city politics,' Johns said. Lincoln Tillman died in 1941 of old age. 'He didn't really have that many health issues, and he was remembered greatly. I hope that he one day gets the recognition as a hero that he deserves,' Johns stated. The public is invited to check out the Black Scranton Project's collection on Lincoln Tillman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two pet dogs die in fire at apartment building in West Scranton
SCRANTON — Two pet dogs died in a late morning fire at an apartment building in West Scranton, authorities said. Tenants of one apartment in the front half of the two-unit building at 311 N. Lincoln Ave. got out safely with their pet dog, Assistant Fire Chief Brian Scott said. Scranton Fire Department firefighters on the scene of a late morning fire at 311 N. Lincoln Ave., in background at left, in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Tenants in the apartment in the rear of the building were not home, but two dogs perished in that unit on the second floor, he said. The fire was reported around 11:25 a.m. on 911 emergency radio communications. A neighbor reported the fire as flames going through the roof, Scott said. 'On the way in, we had a report of possible entrapment,' but searches confirmed that no people were inside, Scott said. 'We just got a quick knock on it,' Scott said of the Fire Department's response. 'There was a lot of heavy smoke when we first pulled up, but we got it under control pretty quick.' Scranton Fire Department firefighters on the scene of a late morning fire at 311 N. Lincoln Ave., in background, in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)Scranton Fire Department firefighters on the scene of a late morning fire at 311 N. Lincoln Ave., in background, in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Firefighters putting out the fire rapidly saved the structure and prevented it from becoming a conflagration threatening to ignite neighboring homes in the tight block, he said. 'The crews did a great job,' Scott said. 'We got it knocked down before it got any worse or extended to any structures around it.' The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said. The building is not immediately habitable from the incident and the Red Cross was expected to assist the displaced residents, Scott said. Doreen Epps, who has lived in the apartment in the front half of the building for over a year, said she was alerted to the fire by her pet Yorkie, Lola. She and two of her young children who were home at the time all got out safely with their dog, Epps said. Her neighbors' dogs that perished in the rear unit were pit bulls, she said. 'I heard the dog barking and I wanted to see why it kept barking, and I saw the smoke coming through the (wall) seam of the (upstairs) bathroom,' Epps said. * Doreen Epps stands outside of her apartment in the building in the background at 311 N. Lincoln Ave. in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, after escaping a late morning fire inside the structure. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Fire Department firefighters on the scene of a late morning fire at 311 N. Lincoln Ave., in background at left, in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Fire Department firefighters on the scene of a late morning fire at 311 N. Lincoln Ave., in background, in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Fire Department firefighters on the scene of a late morning fire at 311 N. Lincoln Ave., in background, in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 4 Doreen Epps stands outside of her apartment in the building in the background at 311 N. Lincoln Ave. in West Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, after escaping a late morning fire inside the structure. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Expand
