Heroes Do Exist: The Story of a Pennsylvania Volunteer Firefighter

It was a cold morning on Saturday, January 26th in Dingman Township, near Milford, Pennsylvania. The thermometer hovered around twenty degrees. At about 4:07 am, the emergency dispatch call went out. A vehicle accident had been reported on Route 6, north of the Interstate. The car was on fire. Someone was trapped inside.

Emergency crews on call with the Milford Fire Department began responding. Quickly getting dressed, grabbing their gear and rushing out the door to head to their fire house. Fireman, EMS, drivers and paramedics.

One of these volunteer responders heard the call and made a decision. Someone was trapped and it would take him and his fellow firefighters from Station 33 too long if they went to the station first. He got into his personal vehicle and went directly to the scene.

When he arrived, he could see the car in flames. And he could see a person inside the vehicle. He first attempted to smash the window with his fist but it wouldn't break. Acting quickly, he got out a shovel and broke the glass. It worked.

Moving quickly, he removed the victim, a young man about 18 - 22, from the burning wreck, covering him with his own jacket. He then began performing first aid on the victim. Minutes later, his fellow volunteers arrived and soon put the fire out. What remained of the vehicle was a smoldering hunk of metal, barely recognizable as a car. (For pictures of the wreck and aftermath, see ThePike County Press article here.)

The young man was soon airlifted from the scene and taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center's Burn Unit, in Allentown, PA. According to The Pike County Press, the young man's name was withheld pending proper identification, and his condition has yet to be undated.

But the crash victim is alive. Because heroes still exist.

Milford Fire Department Lieutenant Eric "Jacko" Jakubowski is a hero. His quick assessment of the situation and actions in the wee hours of that frigid Saturday morning saved a life. Witnesses at the scene who congratulated him for saving the young man's life heard him demurely respond that it was nothing. It was what he was supposed to do.

"That's my son! Good job Eric! Thank God for keeping you safe," said Donald Jakubowski on the Pike County Press website.

Kyle Wright, the Fire Chief of Station 33 said he was proud of "Jacko", adding, "The volunteers of the fire and ambulance departments go through extensive training and spend a lot of time away from their families in order to protect our community....just another fine example by the Milford Fire Department."

The Pike County Press article that recognized Lt. Jakubowski's heroism is piled with responses from the community he serves. All thanking him and the volunteers that protect them. Congratulating him. Accolades from the community, his superiors, family, friends and colleagues span numerous responses following Don Quick's story.

And this unassuming young man, who volunteers to serve and protect the community he lives in, and not much older than the accident victim he saved, will probably just shrug it off and become a little red faced at the attention.

Yes, heroes do exist still. Quiet, conscientious members of our cities and towns and communities all across America. In the Pike County, Pennsylvania, communities surrounding Milford, Pennsylvania, they know him by name. Eric "Jacko" Jakubowski is just one of many who fit that bill.

(Note - The author has no affiliation with The Pike County Press and is receiving no monetary gain from them, nor any agency associated with this article.)

Sources

Volunteer Fireman Saves Shohola Man From Flaming Wreck - Pike County Press

http://pikecountypress.com/wordpress/2010/01/23/volunteer-fireman-saves-shohola-man-from-flaming-wreck/