The Franklin Township Fire Company recognized area firefighters and fire police for their help with the fatal Willow Street fire.

Franklin Township fire Chief Lynn Diehl noted that last year was a hard year for the fire department, as it ran 200 calls and had a difficult time with an arsonist starting brush fires in the spring and summer.

“That situation has hopefully been resolved with the assistant of others, township police, DCNR, district attorney’s office,” Diehl said at the annual Valentine’s Day dance.

Diehl added that on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 of last year, they were dispatched for a dwelling fire on Willow Street that resulted in the death of five people, including four children.

“We relied heavily on neighboring fire companies for support both during and after the actual fire,” he said. “It was very difficult for most involved and many are still having lasting effects of the incident.”

Diehl said a lot of others were involved beyond the fire companies, including EMS from throughout the area who worked hard to do the impossible.

Team effort

He added that the Carbon County Coroner’s Office, state police fire marshals and numerous others all did more than their share at and after the incident.

A critical incident stress management team was brought in to meet with people involved and address any concerns and difficulties they might have, Diehl said.

“Once again, it was a team effort for all involved,” he said. “Although the incident didn’t have a positive outcome, it wasn’t for the sake of not trying.

“Real life isn’t as shown on ‘Chicago Fire’ or ‘Fire Country’ where you can walk through fire. Real life is not being able to see your hand in front of your face or being able to stand up because of intense heat and smoke conditions,” Diehl said.

“Until you have been there, you can’t imagine what it is like. Most of our area firefighters are ready and willing to do this on a daily basis, and volunteer for the job.

“Like I said before, it was a team effort with numerous companies involved, and almost anyone on scene from any of the other mutual aid companies would have stepped up, but there were a select few who were at the right place at the right time that took a direct role in the attempt to save the lives of the victims involved.”

Afterward, several firefighters from Franklin and Lehighton received citations from Kathy Henderson, representing state Rep. Doyle Heffley’s office, for their efforts in trying to save the victims.

Fundraisers

Community members banded together to host multiple fundraisers in the wake of a devastating house fire that claimed the lives of a family of five this year in Franklin Township.

The fundraisers were held for Matthew Wheelock, who lost his four children and their mother in the fire at 56 Willow St. on Sept. 30.

The Carbon County Coroner’s office identified the victims as Aida Marrero, 37; Kaylee Quevedo, 14; Nathaniel Wheelock, 1; Aiden Wheelock, 5; and Matthias Wheelock, 6.

Their deaths were ruled accidental.

In response to the tragedy, fundraisers included two GoFundMe accounts, a fundraiser by the Boatyard Bar and Grill in Weissport; St. Peter’s Community Resource Center as a drop-off site for donations; and a community night by P.J. Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant in Lehighton.

The residents on the other side of the duplex at 56 and 60 Willow St. escaped injury.

State police said that the Troop N Fire Marshal Unit determined there were no suspicious circumstances regarding the fire. The house was a total loss and will be demolished.

When troopers and firefighters arrived just before midnight, the home was fully engulfed on the first floor and rear of the second floor.

Diehl said a critical incident stress management group that provides support to people affected by traumatic events held a session at the Franklin Township Fire station. Firefighters remained on scene until just before 7 a.m.

Also assisting at the scene were the Lehighton Fire Department, Parryville Fire Department, Bowmanstown Fire Department, Mahoning Valley Fire Department, Towamensing Township Fire Department, Jim Thorpe Fire Department, Aquashicola Fire Department for its cascade system, and Lehighton Ambulance.