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From Staff Reports
LEWISTOWN -- If you asked 17-year-old Ethan Ross what he greatest childhood fear was, he would tell you it was fire.
If you asked him today, he would tell you the same thing.
Ross, of Lewistown, joined Burnham Fire Company with his grandfather, "Pappy Woo-Woo" and became a volunteer firefighter.
After just over a year, joined the Brooklyn Hose Company, where there has been family ties from years and years ago. Over the last three years, Ross has spent time not only focusing on his schoolwork, but also taking his firefighter essentials classes as well as holding down a job.
Ross also has spent the last three years helping with fundraisers at each department, including helping with the Central District's Firemen's Convention that was held in Lewistown.
The 17-year-old wasn't aware that Larry Carter (2020 and 2023 Past President of Central District), Captain Bill Morrison, 1st Lieutenant Delbert Wileman and 2nd Lieutenant Eric Bowersox had nominated him for the 2023 Central District Joseph Whiteford Memorial Junior Firefighter Award which would be presented at the awards ceremony at Firemen's Convention. The Central District Joseph Whiteford Memorial Junior Firefighter Award was established in 2017 and is awarded to recognize an outstanding Junior Firefighter that is a member of a fire company/department and in which the fire company/department is in good standing with the Central District. The individual that receives this award can only win the award once in their lifetime.
Ross, member of Burnham Fire Company and the newly joined Heritage Fire Company, is the first member of Heritage Fire Company and any department in Mifflin County to receive this award. Next year Ross will attend Central District's Firemen's Convention 2024 to present next year's winner with the trophy.