HARRISBURG, Pa., May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor
Tom Wolf today presented Governor's
Awards for Excellence to 10 state Bureau of Forestry wildfire
fighters for their role in combatting a forest blaze last spring
that spread for 15 days, threatening lives and property on the
Pike-Monroe county line.
"The employees being recognized today have gone above and beyond
their job requirements to provide outstanding service and make
government more responsive and effective," said Governor Wolf.
"Their accomplishments are truly exemplary and inspiring. We are
fortunate to have such outstanding public servants working for the
people of Pennsylvania."
Praising all state employees for their dedication at today's
ceremony, Governor Wolf presented awards to 37 employees
representing 10 state agencies. The Bureau of Forestry is overseen
by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
"These men and women honored here today are representative of
the incredible group effort that went above and beyond to contain a
wildfire that became very dangerous and very large in a matter of
days," said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams
Dunn. "They filled key positions and worked long shifts over
numerous days to extinguish what would become known as the 16 Mile
Fire before any loss of life or significant property damage
occurred."
Governor's Awards for Excellence recipients were:
Bureau of Forestry Forester DCNR Michael Becker, District Forest
Manager John Hecker, Forester Gerald
Hoy, Forest Maintenance Supervisor Marcus
Kaiser, Forester Daniel Lecrone, retired Forester Robert
Martynowych, foresters Joseph Miller
and Chad Northcraft, Administrative
Assistant Hope Reser, and Forest
Maintenance Repairman James
Stiteler.
The honorees volunteered to join firefighters from 16 states in
a battle against two large wildfires in Monroe and Pike counties that eventually merged,
scorching close to 9,000 acres and threatening more than 250 homes
and businesses.
A Delaware State Forest cabin colony was evacuated and multiple
state forest roads were closed during the fires, which burned two
leased cabins, three seasonal homes, and six outbuildings.
Fighting the fire was complicated by rugged terrain, windy, dry
weather, and dead trees left by former gypsy moth infestations.
The Bureau of Forestry continues to offer a $15,000 reward for information leading to arrests
and convictions in what investigators say were two fires
intentionally set. Labeled the 16 Mile and Beartown fires, the
wildfires were discovered April 20,
2016, and burned through May 2
in Delaware State Forest.
Cost has been set at $2 million
for the wildfires in which more than 100 bureau personnel rotated
in and out of fire scenes. They were assisted by federal, state,
and local emergency and other personnel, as well as a Smokey Bear Hotshot firefighting team from
New Mexico.
Information that could lead to the reward can be forwarded to
bureau Special Investigator Terry
Smith, 717-362-1472; terrsmith@pa.gov; or by calling
570-895-4000. Anonymous tips also are being accepted but do not
qualify for the reward.
DCNR's Bureau of Forestry is responsible for protecting
Pennsylvania's 17 million acres of
public and private woodlands from damage by wildfire. Visit DCNR's
website for more information on wildfire prevention.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Terry
Brady, DCNR, 717-705-2225; tbrady@pa.gov
Dan Egan, Office of Administration;
717-772-4237; degan@pa.gov
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-wolf-honors-bureau-of-forestry-wildfire-fighters-for-excellence-in-combatting-16-mile-fire-in-northeast-pennsylvania-300461644.html
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources