Dinniman Recognizes the Late Chester County Fire Marshal “Pop” Winters

WEST CHESTER (October 27) – State Senator Andy Dinniman recently recognized the late Chester County Fire Marshal William “Pop” Winters at a meeting of the Chester County Fire Chief’s Association at the Chester County Public Safety Training Center in South Coatesville.

“Pop Winters is a legend in Chester County and his more than six decades of experience in the fire service live on through the many firefighters he mentored and the many lives he touched,” Dinniman said. “I thank him, his family – which includes three generations of firefighters – and all our emergency first responders for their service in keeping our communities safe.”

Dinniman memorialized Winters, a lifelong Chester Countian who taught hundreds of men and women how to battle fires and investigate what caused them, on a bookmark that will be distributed to local schools, libraries, and community youth organizations.

Members of the Winters family, who remain active in the fire service, were in attendance.

Born and raised in Atglen, Winters became a firefighter as a teenager. He served as chief in Atglen from 1937 to 1949, then moved to nearby Pomeroy and served as chief there for four years.

Winters was named Chester County Fire Marshal in 1959 and served in that capacity until his death in 1997. During that time, he built a reputation as a tireless public servant who devoted countless hours to teaching other firefighters about the fire service, fire safety, and investigation techniques.

Winters also started the county’s Junior Fire Starters Program, an alternative sentencing program for juveniles convicted of fire-time arson offenses. In addition, he served as Atglen Borough Council president. Winters passed away suddenly, at age 76, while investigating the scene of a fire.

Winters will now join more than 40 other Chester County leaders and pioneers in the fields of art, social service, politics, business, education, and labor whose work Dinniman has honored and highlighted in commemorative bookmarks.

Dinniman, who serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, said he hoped the bookmarks would inspire the next generation of young people to get involved in the emergency services community.

“Just as Pop instilled the same values of service and dedication in his family and those he mentored, we hope these bookmarks will motivate students and young people to answer the call as emergency first responders,” Dinniman said.