‘QUICK ACTION’ COMMENDATION
Ordinary people, extraordinary things: Civilians and detective recognized for their roles during a 2016 blaze at North Penn High School
Recognizing their “quick actions,” two North Penn High School employees and a Towamencin detective received commendations from Montgomery County’s top law enforcer for assessing and investigating a May 2016 fire at the high school.
Chris Doerr, the school’s audio-visual technician, Chris Sharkey, the school’s electrician, and Towamencin Township Detective Michael Paul beamed with pride Thursday as District Attorney Kevin R. Steele honored them during the district attorney’s annual law enforcement and civilian commendations ceremony at the county Public Safety Training Campus in Plymouth Township.
The trio was honored for their assistance during the investigation of an 11:30 a.m. May 24, 2016, twoalarm fire that originated in a band storage area of the high school and quickly spread into the ceiling and necessitated the evacuation of the school’s 3,500 students and staff.
“Fortunately, North Penn High School had two employees on staff that day who possessed firefighting experience,” said Steele, referring to Doerr’s previous service as the Battalion Chief for Towamencin Fire Company, and Sharkey’s position as Upper Gwynedd’s fire chief. “Both of these men were in the vicinity when the fire began and immediately
“Fortunately, North Penn High School had two employees on staff that day who possessed firefighting experience. Both of these men were in the vicinity when the fire began and immediately began making critical calls to request specific types of fire equipment based on the degree and level of the burning fire. As a result of their quick action, several fire companies responded within minutes with the correct equipment capable of managing the two-alarm fire, and consequently, the fire was put out in 45 minutes.” — District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, honoring Chris Doerr, the school’s audio-visual technician, and Chris Sharkey, the school’s electrician
began making critical calls to request specific types of fire equipment based on the degree and level of the burning fire.
“As a result of their quick action, several fire companies responded within minutes with the correct equipment capable of managing the two-alarm fire, and consequently, the fire was put out in 45 minutes,” Steele explained.
Paul, Steele said, immediately began an intensive investigation, reviewing video surveillance and classroom assignment lists and interviewing several students and staff members.
Paul’s investigation quickly developed a 17-yearold student as a suspect in the fire. The student was seen in a surveillance video visiting the band storage area when he was supposed to be in class on the other side of the school, Steele explained to the 200 people who attended the commendation ceremony.
Paul took a statement from the juvenile, who admitted to intentionally setting the fire with a lighter that he had brought to school, Steele said. The juvenile subsequently admitted to arson-related charges in court and was placed in a residential treatment facility for juvenile offenders.
The fire caused about $800,000 in damages and the school’s theatre, band and vocal chorus programs were shut down for the remainder of the year, and some portions of the school had to be closed off, Steele said.
“But it would have been far worse in terms of physical and monetary damage and potential loss of life without the quick actions of Mr. Doerr and Mr. Sharkey. And thanks to the thorough and expeditious investigation by Detective Paul, the juvenile is now getting the help he needs,” Steele said.
The crowd of about 200 police officers, detectives and their families erupted with thunderous applause as Steele presented Doerr and Sharkey with the District Attorney’s Citizen’s Commendation and Paul with the Law Enforcement Commendation.
The commendations were three of 34 that Steele distributed, during the district attorney’s annual commendation ceremony, to law enforcers and civilians to honor them for “their extraordinary efforts and exemplary work in protecting and serving county residents.”
Steele said 26 of the “reallife heroes” were from the law enforcement world.
“They get up every day, put on their uniform and badge and leave their families never knowing what to expect on that day’s shift,” Steele said.
Eight of those honored on Thursday weren’t part of law enforcement.
“They are ordinary people who did extraordinary things to help someone else and to save someone’s life or change it for the better,” Steele said.
Doerr, Sharkey and Paul were nominated for the commendations by county Deputy District Attorney Sharon Giamporcaro who handled the prosecution of the teenager.