Eleven Schuylkill firefighters recognized for lifesaving rescue
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Coaldale Fire Chief Steven Polischak shakes Tamaqua firefighter Lauren Hill's hand as she receives the Medal of Valor on August 25, 2025.
COALDALE – Just over a month ago, volunteer firefighters from across eastern Schuylkill County and the Panther Valley region of Carbon County saved the life of a teen in a house fire.
Monday night, the eleven firefighters directly involved in that rescue received the Medal of Valor, the highest award for a firefighter.
The fire call came in just before 7pm on July 23 on East Howard Avenue in Coaldale. Fire Chief Steven Polischak recounted the rescue efforts during a ceremony Monday night on the apron of the Coaldale firehouse.
Crews arrived with a report of a trapped teenager, Polischak said, and a search and rescue team quickly took action. That team consisted of seven members of the Coaldale Fire Department and four members of the Tamaqua Fire Department.
The team successfully found the teen and brought him out.
“It was one team effort,” Polischak said.
Area dignitaries were on hand for the ceremony, including State Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill).
“There is nothing more important than what’s happening right here,” Argall said. “It takes a special kind of bravery to be able to go into a burning building and save a life.”
The teen was flown to a Lehigh County hospital.
The Coaldale Fire Company called the incident “a powerful reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms and having a practiced home fire escape plan.”
Firefighters recognized included Steve Polischak, Matt Jungbear, John Leinthall, Anthony Soberick, Kevin Soberick, Robert Coombe, Jarrett Reigel, Michael Doerr, Lauren Hill, Thomas Polischak, and Aaron McLaughlin.
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