This week was another tough week for the fire service, particularly in Central PA. Three more of our local brothers were called home this week, and another in New York City. Firefighters Ivan Flanscha and Zachary Anthony of the York City Fire Department and Firefighter Michael Davidson of the FDNY all paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Additionally, Chief Dan Soulier of the Harrisburg City Fire Dept. (Ret.) lost his battle with cancer earlier this week.

While every announcement of a brother or sister passing affects us, it especially hits home when its in our own back yard. To make matters worse, this is the second time in just over a year that a Central Pennsylvania Fire Department has experienced a line of duty death. Just a week ago, firefighters from all around the greater Harrisburg area paused to remember Lieutenant Dennis DeVoe of the Harrisburg City Fire Department. Lieutenant DeVoe was killed in a motor vehicle accident while responding to a house fire with people trapped. He had just left the funeral of Harrisburg Firefighter Dan Wolfe.

We are all keenly aware of the dangers of the job, however, nobody ever believes it will happen to them. We rely on our training and experience to keep us safe. There's nothing more that each of us want than to return home to our families when we're done. Unfortunately, many of our brothers and sisters have not been able to do so. That is why each of us that are so lucky will hug our loved ones a little tighter tonight.

We will honor the memory of these men by continuing to answer the call for service. We will continue to train hard and if there is something to be learned from these incidents, we will learn from them. But for now, we ask that you please join us in praying for the families of Firefighter Flanscha, Firefighter Anthony, Firefighter Davidson, and Chief Soulier as well as the entire City of York Fire Department, Fire Department of the City of New York, and Harrisburg City Fire Departments as they grieve the loss of their own.