SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — An American Flag at half-mast and rubble is all that is left of the home that one year ago on Dec. 7 was engulfed in smoke and flames.
Volunteer departments in and surrounding West Penn Township responded to the three-alarm fire, trucking in thousands of gallons of water and providing mutual aid.
As the fire tore through the home, two firefighters, Marvin Gruber and Zachary Parish, both from New Tripoli Fire Company became trapped inside, later dying as a result.
An investigation was taken on by the West Penn Township Police Department after the fire was deemed suspicious.
At the same time, memorial services were held throughout the surrounding communities that Gerber and Parish served.
While the investigation into the fire is still ongoing, the firefighters' memories still live on.
Today both families remain close to the department the two men served at.
All things serving as a lasting reminder to their community and the volunteer department that the two men made the ultimate sacrifice.