Today (November 30, 2018) the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation (PCHF) held its annual ‘Champions of the Community’ Awards Luncheon at the Phoenixville Country Club. The Foundation annually honors Adults and youth who voluntarily give of their time, talent and resources absent of any gain. They recognize adults and youth who provide leadership in their community and support those less fortunate or facing insurmountable circumstances.
This year in addition to the four (4) Champions selected by the Foundation, they also did a ‘Special’ recognition for a group who worked together to perform a water rescue on the Pickering Creek back in August 2018. This event was submitted to the PCHF by Deputy Chief Fields for Firefighters of the Kimberton Fire Department and Friendship Dive Team of Phoenixville. Detailed was the event of the rescue of a 12 year old boy on the Pickering Creek back in August 2018.

The PCHF selection Committee recognized this as different but worthy of an award and recognition. Each department was offered four (4) seats at the event. The award came with a beautiful plaque and a $1000 check for their department. The award comes with a $2000 check, but the two organizations decided to split the money as they worked hand in hand to complete the rescue. The rescuers all acknowledged that it was a team effort and wanted to clarify they were simply those chosen to be there to accept the award.
Maybe you remember seeing the action unfold on many of the news stations that day. Crews noted that the overhead video failed to do justice to what was really occurring on the rapid waters of the Pickering Creek that day. Every crew member had a specific job that day, whether upstream or a safety crew downstream. They performed perfectly.

Kimberton FD personnel serving that day: Lieutenant Bryan Sims (Incident Commander) , Matt Cole (Operations), CJ Kronmuller, Cliff Amole, Assistant Chief Doug Gable (Public Information Officer), Al Kritzberger, Ashley Marchetti, Paul Jorgensen and Toby Bonsall (Duty Career Driver).

Friendship Dive Team: Deputy Chief Joe Behm , Joe Motzer, Tyler Frees and Rick Smethers.