McKeesport first responders honored for high-rise fire rescue

Several residents were rescued from the Midtown Plaza Apartments after a trash chute caught fire in October.

Several McKeesport first responders were commended Wednesday for their outstanding efforts to battle a major fire and save lives during an Oct. 5 fire at McKeesport’s Midtown Plaza Apartments.

McKeesport fire Chief Kevin Kovach and police Chief Josh Alfer recognized several firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical responders. Kovach emphasized that battling the blaze wasn’t an easy job.

“The Midtown Plaza fire wasn’t a regular fire,” Kovach said. “Paramedics, EMTs, and police acted almost superhuman to get everyone out of there.”

McKeesport Mayor Thomas Maglicco reiterated the fire chief’s message.

“The incident escalated to a three-alarm structure fire where more than 20 people were trapped and disoriented from smoke conditions,” Maglicco said. “The quick, selfless actions of our first responders ensured their rescue.”

Maglicco and the McKeesport Fire Department recognized the following firefighters: Jason Arndt, Tyler Caudrado, David Ross, Bruce Snyir Jr., Mark St. Clair, Brandon Schmidt, Tom Hartin, Robert Cannon, Josh Hickman and Jake Taylor. Chief Bruce Snyir Sr. of the Glassport Fire Department was also recognized.

Alfer recognized the following police officers: Luke Dunlevy, Dylan Vaniel, Richard Dell, Joshua Byers, Bryan Morris, Patricia Summers, Seth Taylor, David Bertoty, and Robert Roche.

Maglicco and the fire department also recognized EMS responders, William Miller, Shawnee Smith, Quinton Williams, Roy Conrad and Trevor Smith.

New city administrator and CFO named

Council unanimously approved to hire Jennifer Vertullo as the new McKeesport city administrator and Tasha Johnson Phelps as the new chief financial officer. Phelps has worked for the city for 28 years, and Vertullo since 2015.

Tasha Johnson Phelps, McKeesport Mayor Thomas Maglicco, Jennifer Vertullo and Magisterial District Judge Joseph Pero are shown at Wednesday’s city council meeting. Phelps was sworn in as the city’s new chief financial officer and Vertullo as the new city administrator. Ladimir Garcia / Mon Valley Independent

Phelps said she’s excited to get started in her new position and to work with Vertullo and Maglicco under their new administration.

“I’m going to focus a whole lot on the delinquent debt, working with Keystone and Ecollect, making sure they’re sending out the letters and the bills on time, doing the things that they need to do as well,” Phelps said.

Vertullo said that she’s noticed the excitement in the McKeesport community.

“I’m working with the mayor to streamline how we operate on a daily basis,” Vertullo said. “We really hit the ground running, and you can see people commenting things of that nature on social media. So I think that everybody’s excited.”