| Most people are unaware that a member of the TSFR legacy West Wyomissing Fire Co. was killed in the line of duty in 1959 while responding to assist a neighbor with flooding after a particularly drenching late fall storm. Volunteer Firefighter Robert Trate was riding the back step of an engine from West Wyomissing which was transporting a portable pump on its hose bed, enroute to a flooded basement call. The engine hit a rough patch of street when the pump became dislodged and fell, striking FF Trate and causing fatal injuries. FF Trate left behind a wife and child.
Unfortunately, his story became lost to history and was recently resurrected in order to permanently acknowledge his sacrifice in service to his community. Accordingly, a plaque was commissioned and recently placed on display in the day room of the Township fire station located at 2301 Monroe Avenue. Pictured are the plaque and members of the Kerns family. Stacy Kerns, a support member of TSFR, is a niece of FF Trate and is married to TSFR Fire Police Lieut. Keith Kerns.
The plaque is mounted on the same wall as the display honoring the late Trooper Brandon Sisca, a former TSFR Career Fire Captain who was killed in the line of duty while serving with the Pennsylvania State Police in 2021.
Visitors to the station are encouraged to visit the day room and honor the fallen as our personnel do every time they enter the room. |
