DOUBLING UP

For two local firefighters, twins make for a special Father’s Day

EAST BRANDYWINE » This Father’s Day the Chester County Fire Chief’s Association is highlighting fathers who volunteer at area firehouses.

Surprisingly, two fathers who volunteer at the East Brandywine Fire Company have welcomed two sets of twins making Chief Vincent D’Amico a daddy and adding to the family of firefighter/EMT Eddie Ranck.

D’Amico, 33, and his wife, Stephanie, are the proud parents of twins, Roman and Cecilia, born in December. Ranck’s twins, Easton and Elliott, were born 8½ months ago, joining big brother Edgar Ranck III and keeping Ranck, 31, and his wife, Patricia, extremely busy.

The two sets of twins join several other babies born to East Brandywine members in the last year or so — a bit of a baby boomlet for the fire company.

Both Ranck and D’Amico knew each other as students at Downingtown West High School and shared an apartment before they married. Now the families live adjacent to each other in West Brandywine Township. Both men are godfathers to each other’s sons and

D’Amico was the best man at Ranck’s wedding.

When he was growing up, D’Amico admired his uncle, John Cordisco, who was the chief at Thorndale Fire Company and is still a member there.

“He got me involved in the fire service,” said D’Amico, who joined Thorndale as a junior firefighter at 14. “He would bring fire trucks to my birthday parties when I was little.” D’Amico rose through the ranks at Thorndale and later joined the East Brandywine Fire Company.

Ranck joined East Brandywine as a junior firefighter at 16. His father, Edgar Ranck Sr. was a firefighter at the VA Hospital in Coatesville until he retired and one of his grandfathers was also a firefighter. Ranck had also served as a firefighter with the Westwood Fire Company but came back to East Brandywine.

“It’s really rewarding to be able to help someone in their time of need,” said Ranck, whose paid job is being a tow truck driver for Fling’s Towing. “The thing that’s pretty cool to me, since I joined at 16 years old, is seeing the friendships we all build and watching everyone

filter into where they fit best in the firehouse. Seeing Vince as chief at such a young age and all he’s accomplished in the department is great.”

D’Amico, who is in public works for East Goshen Township, said there are two things he likes best about being a firefighter. One is the “relationships and the bonds you build with the people you meet, the friendships you develop. You meet a lot of good people who are caring and willing to help.”

The second is the chance to help people.

“It sounds cliché but at the end of the day, being able to help people in their time of need when they’re facing their worst day and offer them some hope, is very fulfilling. Most people don’t get to see that,” said D’Amico.

Both men also praised their wives for supporting their firefighting duties.

Neil Vaughn, chair of the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association’s volunteer recruitment committee, said that no prior experience is required for volunteer firefighters and the training and equipment are free.

“Volunteer at your local Chester County fire station and you can help save lives,” said Vaughn. The opportunities available including firefighters, EMTs, fire police, junior firefighters and administrative volunteers. “This Father’s Day think about volunteering with your son or daughter,” he said. “You can learn new skills, have fun and become part of a second family, a firefighting family.”

For more information about volunteering at your local fire company go to: HelpFightFire.com Training and equipment are free.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Vincent D’Amico and Eddie Rank, members of the East Brandywine Fire Company, with their children at the fire house.