•5-2-09 - 18th Annual Membership Banquet•

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This year the Wrightsville Fire Company (41) & Hellam Fire Company (21) joined together to have one event at the Wrightsville Fire Station.  Guest speaker Matthew Tobia (Battalion Chief Anne Arundal County Fire Department) again gave an inspirational talk on firefighter safety and commended the Wrightsville and Hellam Teams on there dedication to the community and creating a world class fire department focused on safety.  During the awards ceremony Chief Smeltzer awarded Firefighter Craig Ryon with the departments Member of the Year Award, and Firefighter Eric Oberdorff received the Loyalty and Dedication award for running 363 incidents in 2008.  The helping hand award was given to Sue's Market in Wrightsville for thier generous support during 2008.  The Firefighter of the Year Award included members of the Columbia No. 1 Fire Department.  In 2008 a fast moving fire at the Hometown Hotel tested the capabilities of the Wrightsville Fire Company and neighboring companies.  During the fire,  arriving crews encountered heavy fire in multi-occupied apartment building with numerous reports of civilians trapped.  Firefighters initiated the operation searching numerous apartments under extremely dangerous conditions.  This year the Wrightsville Fire Company honored the twelve firefighters who initiated the operation searching the apartments.  The honored firefighters were presented a Citation from the US House of Representatives signed by Representative Keith Gillespie and Representative David Hickernell, as well as a medal of valor from the Wrightsville Fire Company.  The honored firefighters were: Deputy Chief Scott Livelsberger  (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Assistant Chief Chad Livelsberger  (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Captain Joshua Groft (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Lieutenant Michael Poole  (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Lieutenant Craig Ryon  (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Firefighter Eric Livelsberger  (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Firefighter Dick Livelsberger  (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Firefighter Eric Oberdorff (Wrightsville Fire & Rescue) Chief Scott Ryno  (Columbia No. 1 Fire Department) Deputy Chief Joe Felus (Columbia No. 1 Fire Department) Firefighter Frank Splain Jr.  (Columbia No. 1 Fire Department) Firefighter Charles Anderson Jr.  (Columbia No. 1 Fire Department) The award was presented by Chief Fred Smeltzer, Assistant Chief Len Urey, Chief Matthew Dube, State Representative Keith Gillespi and Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia.  After the award was presented, the members of the Wrightsville Fire Company presented Chief Smeltzer with an award for his actions on that same day.  During the operation conditions deteriorated and at one point members had to be evacuated from the building.  Chief Smeltzers actions and quick thinking may of well saved firefighters lives.  Immediately after evacuations, conditions deteriorated rapidly. Story courtesy of Columbia #1 Fire Department Congratulations to all members on a job well done in 2008! Thanks to the Maytown-East Donegal Twp. Fire Department and Columbia #1 Fire Department for providing fire/rescue services during the duration of the banquet