York Professional Fire Fighters Assn.
Local No. 627, International Association of Fire Fighters

THE LAST ALARM

Firefighter Donald R. Harrison

On February 25, 1971, the Rex aerial ladder truck, "Ladder A," was returning to quarters after a training exercise. The 1964 American LaFrance open-cab 100 foot tractor-drawn ladder truck was being driven by Firefighter Robert Rizzio, and tillered by Firefighter Gregory Holtzapple. Riding in the cab with Rizzio was Firefighter Donald Harrison, who was appointed to the department eight months earlier, on June 2, 1970.

As the apparatus passed through the 600 block of South Duke Street, a large tree in front of the Calvary Presbyterian Church suddenly fell directly into the path of the ladder truck, falling onto the cab of the vehicle and pinning Firefighter Harrison in his seat. Harrison was transported to York Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Driver Eugene Greiman

On Tuesday, October 29, 1940, at 5:36 am, Gamewell Box 131 at College and Pershing Avenues was sounded for a fire in the boiler room of the idle York Paper Manufacturing Company plant at 242 West Princess Street. Greiman responded driving the apparatus of the Laurel Fire Company.

Greiman positioned his apparatus on the premises of the York Caramel Company, at the east end of the College Avenue bridge. Greiman stretched a hose line, and returned to the apparatus, where he was observed collapsing to the ground. Greiman was placed in a police cruiser car and rushed to York Hospital, where he pronounced dead of a coronary occlusion.