Local Fire Chief Awarded State Honor

 

by Jonathan Weaver

In March, a Kittanning Borough fire chief was honored as “Pennsylvania VFW Firefighter of the Year.”

Kittanning Hose Company #4 Fire Chief Earl “Buzz” Kline received the award March 21 at the Armstrong County Fire School in Manor Township.

Ford City VFW Post 4843 Commander Daryl Ray nominated Kline for the award in November.

“The membership of the Ford City VFW Post 4843 and his peers have long recognized Earl’s devotion as a fire fighter in Armstrong County,” Ray’s cover letter stated. “Earl was an easy choice (to be) the post’s nominee.”

Kline called the award “a total surprise.”

“I had no clue,” Kline said. “I was speechless. Caught way off guard.”

Kline, 69, began as one of Ford Cliff fire company’s first junior firefighters until he became an active senior firefighter alongside his father, Ford Cliff Fire Chief Earl Denver, and brothers, Jay and Howard.

Kline joined Kittanning Hose Company #4 in September 1970 and has served more than 25 years as fire chief, in addition to other leadership roles. He has served on or led committees for acquisition of the department’s last two fire engines and was also instrumental in putting in service the county’s first mobile air compressor unit to refill breathing air bottles at emergency scenes.

Kline has also held leadership positions within t he Armstrong County Firemen’s Association – such as president, first vice-president and second vice-president – and has been Kittanning Borough’s fire marshal since 1989.

In 1984, Kline was named Hose Company #4 “Fireman of the Year,” and in 1997, Armstrong County Firemen’s Association “Man of the Year.”

At this month’s Kittanning Borough Council meeting, Kline was honored by Councilman Gerald Shuster.

“(Kline) brings honor to the community, to his fire company and to all the fire companies in our area,” Shuster said before the audience applauded Kline. “Thank you for all of your service.”

Kline’s three sons – Kevin, Scott and Danny – helped comprise the application while their father was at the fire school one evening.

Scott – who presented the award to his father – serves as Kittanning Hose Company #6 Fire Chief, Kevin serves as Kittanning Hose Company #1 Assistant Chief and Danny has served with various fire departments and his currently with Freeport EMS.

Kline’s four grandchildren – Zachary, Matthew, Kendra and Natasha – are also local fire volunteers.

Zachary serves as Hose Company #6 Assistant Chief, Matthew as a Hose Company #6 firefighter, Natasha as a Hose Company #6 junior firefighter and Kendra as a Hose Company #1 junior firefighter.

In addition to his volunteering, Kline also is a Good Commercial Tires salesman.

“Buzz” – who is also a Vietnam War and U.S. Army veteran, is also a member of the post. “Buzz” earned six medals during his service and was a clerk personnel specialist before being honorably discharged.

Other veterans and firefighters also attended the ceremony.