Lebanon man celebrates 40 years of volunteer fire service to the city

After 40 years as a volunteer firefighter, William Yeagley’s most-lasting memory of his service is one that spans generations. 

“I went to fire schools, I went to fires with my father. And then as I started to become an instructor, I would get their children, and now I’m actually getting their grandchildren to show up at trainings,” Yeagley said. “It’s always interesting when I introduce myself and, generally speaking, they’ll come up at a break or they’ll come up at lunch and they’ll say, ‘I think you knew my father and I think you knew my grandfather.’ And they’ll give me their name and literally a lot of times I remember.”

Yeagley’s anniversary in fire service was celebrated Thursday during a special ceremony exclusively covered by LebTown prior to Chemical Fire Company #1’s monthly meeting. Yeagley became a volunteer firefighter with that company on Feb. 6, 1986, when he turned 18, and he also has a professional career in fire service.

While speaking to LebTown after the meeting, Yeagley said it can be hard to remember everyone he’s met as a fire instructor, but those moments that involve generations of firefighters are the ones that are especially important to him.

“They’ll say it was at this class or this class and I say, ‘Okay, I kind of remember that,’ but I do about 400 hours of training a year and it’s just hard to remember all of those faces and names, but those are really the things I find that matter,” added Yeagley. 

His respect for generational firefighting spans beyond those he has met as a classroom instructor.

He’s a third-generation volunteer in a family that has fire service in their blood. His grandfather Clair Yeagley, his father Robert, and sons Robert III and William II have served as members of Chemical Fire Company, making four generations of duty.

All told, theirs is an impressive record of service.

“With the two boys now, probably more than 130 years, I would say,” said Yeagley. “For me, and I can’t speak for my grandfather, but for my father and I, it was all about helping the community. It was just something that you did – give back to community service. Some people would go to the Lions Club or some other service organization. We just tended to flock to the fire department.”

Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership positions on both the administrative and operational sides of the fire company. 

His service includes “27 years as captain, lieutenant, president, vice president, trustee, and delegate to the Lebanon City Fireman’s Relief Association. His leadership has been marked by steady commitment, institutional knowledge, and a focus on organizational excellence,” according to a press release. He’s also a professional fire marshal and firefighter at Lower Allen Fire Department in Cumberland County.

“I think it was kind of one of those things, it was a natural course of action. I wanted to continue to help my community. And an opening opened up in the Department of Public Safety and I applied for it and got the job. I was an inspector back in that day and I think it just kind of morphed into the next job, the next job and the next job,” Yeagley said. “It was kind of just a natural progression to go from, I’m gonna take what I’ve been doing as a volunteer for so many years and kind of use that knowledge and those skills that I learned and, you know, obviously put them to good use.” 

Yeagley is a strong advocate for firefighter education and preparedness, and he has pursued extensive professional training throughout his career.  He holds more than 20 certifications and has completed more than 400 training courses, totaling more than 2,600 hours of instruction.

His training spans numerous institutions, including the U.S. National Fire Academy, the National Emergency Management Institute, the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, Harrisburg Area Community College, Bucks County Community College, Michigan State University, and several other regional and national fire and emergency services training organizations.

An unfortunate incident, the death of firefighter Tim Stine during a downtown fire at Harrisburg Area Community College in 1990, forever changed Yeagley’s outlook and dedication to fire safety education.

“I think when you’re in the fire service in the beginning, you kind of have that superman mentality like, ‘Nothing’s gonna hurt me, nothing’s gonna happen to me,’” Yeagley said. “Somebody dies and you know you sit there and you go, ‘Wow.’”

He said what was a short stack of fire safety certificates began to grow. 

“I think if you look at that (Stine’s passing), it probably for me was a life-changing event of where I took something that was negative and turned it into a positive and said, ‘Okay, if you’re gonna do this, do it to the best of your ability, go out and get the most training and certification and education that you can get,’” said Yeagley. “And, you know, I believe that I did that. I believe that I turned that negative into a positive, at least for me.”

Since 1997, Yeagley has shared his expertise as an adjunct fire and rescue instructor for the Pennsylvania Fire Academy, Harrisburg Area Community College, and Bucks County Community College. In this role, he provides curriculum instruction for emergency services training programs at the college’s Public Safety Centers, helping to educate and prepare the next generation of first responders.

Beyond the fire service, Bill currently serves as vice chairman of the board of supervisors in North Cornwall Township, and is a PEMA-certified emergency management coordinator for local municipal government. He is also employed as a fire inspector and building code official in Cumberland County. 

It is that combined level of service that was cited by Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello in a proclamation read by Lebanon city fire chief Aaron “AJ” Sweitzer during a brief ceremony to honor Yeagley prior to the fire company’s board meeting. 

“Whereas, Bill is the embodiment of the fire service volunteerism, always serving without seeking recognition or personal glory. Bill’s exemplary leadership continues to inspire those around him, and (he) trains from the foundation (up) with the Lebanon City and Lebanon County Fire Service,” read Sweitzer.

Sweitzer shared personal thoughts on Yeagley being a mentor to him.

“On a personal level, I want to acknowledge Bill’s impact that he has had on my own professional life as a firefighter and as a fire officer. Through his work ethic, decision-making, and commitment to doing the right thing has influenced how I approach leadership and service,” Sweitzer told an audience of about 20 people. “Those lessons don’t come from the textbook. They come from watching someone who truly lives the job and values behind it.”

Sweitzer spoke directly to Yeagley, who was at the front of the room while the proclamations were being read.

“Bill, your service, mentorship, and dedication have not gone unnoticed. On behalf of this company, this department, and the fire service, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. We are better because of your commitment and it’s an honor to serve alongside you,” Sweitzer said.

Through every role he has held, Yeagley’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to public safety, professional development, and service to his community. Those sentiments were covered in official proclamations also presented by representatives of Congressman Dan Meuser (R-9th) and Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48), and Mike Kuhn, chairman of the Lebanon County Commissioners.

“I am honored to be here with so many great people,” said Kuhn, presenting a citation on behalf of fellow commissioners Jo Ellen Litz and Bob Phillips. “I think about Lebanon County, born and raised here, and so many people that make our community a great place to live and work and raise a family. And you people represent the very best of the best. You especially for 40 years. There’s so many people that have done work and volunteered, but you guys have done your work while putting your life on the line when you go to work.”

It’s easy to see why Yeagley has remained involved for four decades when you know a piece of wisdom his father once shared with him.

“My dad instilled in me that no matter what happens, you gotta keep going back,” Yeagley said. “The little thing that I said there at the end about the company, we can disagree and we can argue … but afterwards we still gotta go out and serve the public and do that positively with the person next to you. No matter what differences you have, you go out and you do the job.”

And in doing that job, work with people you care about and love, no matter which generation they represent. Those are what makes for Yeagley’s cherished memories – especially when those remembrances involve his family. 

“Obviously, being on fire calls with my two sons, that’s always memorable,” Yeagley said. “You get to do the thing that you like the most with your sons, and I think that was a very fulfilling to know. And to look back and say, ‘What would my grandfather say if he was standing over here tonight?’ Seeing all those people and seeing me after 40 years or my dad and my two sons, knowing that my sons followed in their footsteps too. I think that, for me, that’s a positive fulfillment to them that I did.”