Greenawalds Names its 'Firefighter of the Year'

Five years ago, Joey Britt of Allentown joined the as a volunteer junior firefighter.

On Saturday, the 20-year-old gave a thumbs up to being named "Firefighter of the Year" for his enthusiasm and dedication to the Greenawalds Fire Co. and to the community.

To date this year, Britt has answered 258 calls out of 396, or 65 percent of the calls that the volunteer fire company has handled. He was also given the top award for attending the most training classes in 2011.

 “I do whatever the line officer asks me to do, and I try to do it at a higher standard [than required]," he said. "I’m always at the station early, working on the trucks and running checks on the equipment to make sure it works.”

About 65 firefighters and guests, including commissioners Tori Morgan, Howard Ellsworth and Thomas Johns and newly elected township commissioners David Bond and Glenn Block, were on hand as Britt received his award. The company's annual holiday banquet and awards dinner was held Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Holiday Inn, Fogelsville.

Britt had joined the National Guard immediately after graduating from William Allen High School in 2009. He attends Lincoln Technical Institute, where he is studying to be a medical assistant. After he graduates next June, he said he plans to work at a pediatric hospital, then take the exam to become a firefighter for the City of Allentown.

Asked the attraction of making firefighting a career, he said, “Every kid starts out wanting to be a fireman when he grows up. I think I was born into it. I love the adrenaline rush, even if it’s 3 a.m. I love helping people out.“

Living in a household with his mother and two sisters (his father died when he was two months old), Britt attributes much of his growing up to his “brothers” at the fire company.

“The guys kept me out of trouble. I joined the fire company when I was a junior, and working with the company became my community service project when I was a senior. But the guys, well, they taught me how to change a tire and fix a car, you know, manly stuff,” he said.  In turn, he added with a chuckle, he was able to teach the younger guys how to act around women, since he lives with three.

For his efforts and dedication, Britt received a plaque and a pin for his uniform. But what mattered most, he said, “all my brothers were there.”

Also receiving service awards were:

* Richie Frantz (60 years)

* John Frantz and (30 years each)

* Shawn Kane, Phil Lathrop and Tim Sutton (20 years each)

* Matt Callihan, Darryle Moyer, Johnny Semonich and Jim Trexler Sr.  (10 years each)

* Britt, Richie Frantz, Mark Kleibscheidel, Beth Kleibscheidel, Mike Sansone and Jared Tellechea (five years each).

The Greenawalds Fire Co., founded in 1920, is one of four fire departments serving South Whitehall. It was the first fire company to be established in the township.