Seven Years Later, Phoenixville Firemen's Heroic Actions Remembered

Second image caption - L to R: Deputy Chief Jim Gable, Battalion Chief David J. Meadows, Nicholas DiVesta, Chester County Fire Marshal Harrison “Digger” Holt, Captain Walter Bohn, County Commissioners Patrick O’Donnell & Carol Aichele and Atglen Fire Chief William R.L. Winters, Sr. Images courtesy Phoenixville Fire Department.

Seven years ago, in October of 2008, several Phoenixville Fire Department firemen were honored for their heroic, lifesaving actions during a fire in the borough.

The firemen had responded to a fire in an apartment building on the 200 block of Church Street just after midnight on January 11, 2007, according to the fire department.

Flames and smoke were boiling out of the windows when officials saw that a man was trapped in the back of an apartment on the third floor.

Without a charged hose line, a search team made entry with the assistance of police officers, the fire department reported.

The victim was found inside a bathroom and rescued.

He was lifeflighted to a trauma center for smoke inhalation and burn treatment, and survived.

Though the fire was heavy, it was contained to only three units in the row.

For their work and life-saving actions that night, the Chester County Commissioners awarded Battalion Chief David J. Meadows, Captain Walter Bohn and Firefighter Nicholas DiVesta the prestigious William “Pop” Winters Medal of Valor in October, 2008.

Both Ladder 65 and Engine 65 received a Unit Citation Award for their work on that January night. The honored individuals included:

- Deputy Chief Jim Gable
- Captain Dave Meadows, Jr.
- Lieutenant Craig Billman
- FF Larry DiVesta
- FF David Meadows, Sr.
- FF Nick DiVesta
- FF Doug Maxton
- FF Matt Fink
- FF Steve Whitman
- FF Shawn Mazei
- FF Beth Meadows
- FF Ed Walters