 |
| Photo by: John E. Usalis |
William “Mick” McFadden a Washington Fire Company and Washington Fire Company Ambulance Association 50 year member was the Ashland Elks Lodge #384, 2013 "Citizen of the Year" Award back in November.
The Ashland community is very thankful for McFadden’s dedicated serve for his volunteer years with Ashland’s fire and ambulance serve. McFadden has been the first responder to many fire and ambulance calls during his 50 years.
On January 24, 1981, approximately 9 a.m., fire broke out at the residence of 1905 Centre Street, claiming the life of a woman and her 4 year old daughter. The blaze was claimed one of the most devastating fires in Ashland Borough History which is a day McFadden will never forget.
McFadden was at the Hookies when someone knocked on the fire house door stating that there was a fire up the street. McFadden quickly activated the borough fire alarm and radioed via to the Schuylkill County Communication Center. McFadden with a crew of Hookies fire fighters were first on scene with their 1976 Hahn Fire Engine.
McFadden, borough assistant fire marshal; and Ed O'Donnell, borough assistant fire chief; were in charge of the scene until Fire Chief Tom Towers arrived.
The fire was fully involved and a blast occurred with debris flying everywhere. The fire rapidly spread from the 1905 Centre Street home to the east where it quickly involved 1901-1903, a three-story bar and apartment building. The fire also moved westward, igniting a three story home at 1907 Centre Street. Twin properties at 1909-1911, a beauty shop and two apartments burned.
The borough reservoir went dry a week before the blaze. Mutual aid was called by McFadden via radio for a need of tanker fire trucks from all over Schuylkill County to help fight the blaze.
This fire was published on July 1981 in the Fire Engineering Magazine circulated across the U.S.A. for recognizing the Ashland Fire Department for "Alternate Water Source Needed At Fire During Severe Drought."
McFadden was one of the founding fathers of Ashland’s Rescue Truck, and the “Jaws of Life” was the first in Schuylkill County. The "Jaws of Life" was originally stored in the old Cadiallac ambulance before the Washington Fire Company Community Ambulance Association purchased a rescue truck. McFadden has been serving on the ambulance board and he is a dedicated ambulance chief of the Washington Fire Company Community Ambulance Association for many years.
McFadden is also dedicated to the beautification of maintaining Washington Park in the west end section of the borough. There is not a day in the summer when you drive by on Route 54 and not seeing him on the lawn mower cutting the grass in the park.
McFadden has dedicated his life to the Washington Fire Company and Washington Fire Company Community Ambulance Association. This "Citizen of the Year" award was a well-deserved honor to him and his family.
 |
| Photo Courtesy of Coal Region Fire |
 |
| Photo Courtesy of Washington Fire Co. #1 |
 |
| Photo Courtesy of Washington Fire Co. #1 |
 |
| Photo Courtesy of Coal Region Fire |