Two fire company deaths, one injured

PERKASIE » Within days of each other, two veteran Perkasie Fire Company No. 1 firefighters have died while another was hospitalized with injuries.

Michael Miller, 47, who joined the department in 2005 as a firefighter, then switched several years later to the department’s fire police, died on Jan. 4.

Miller, whose death was from a heart condition, had moved to Doylestown recently to be closer to his cardiologist, but still stopped in sometimes at the station, Fire Chief David Worthington said.

“A week or so before Christmas, he had stopped in and we all sat and talked,” Worthington said.

“Mike left an impression on everyone he met with his comical sense of humor and unforgettable personality. He loved to make people laugh,” his obituary said. “His pride and joy in life were his two kids and his world revolved around them.”

“He always had an easy relaxed manner about himself at the Station. He was the King of One-Liners and needling his friends,” the fire department said on its Facebook page.

Miller attended The Christian Life Center in Bensalem and was a member of the Ambassadors for Christ Motorcycle Ministry. He also was an avid Philadelphia sports fan, loved music and played the bass guitar.

Brian Irvin, 56, the fire company’s current president, died on Jan. 5.

Irvin was on the list for a kidney transplant and had been on dialysis for almost a year, but his death came as a shock, Worthington said.

“Two days before he passed, he was on a fire call,” Worthington said.

The night before Irvin’s death, he was an active part of the fire company’s monthly meeting, Worthington said.

“That night he ran the meeting,” he said.

Afterward, Irvin remained as a group sat around talking about things including Miller’s death, Worthington said.

“We knew his health condition,” Worthington said, “but we never envisioned this.”

“He was dedicated to serving his community,” Irvin’s obituary said.

“He was known by many for his numerous years of active service in Upper Bucks County. Always known to be one who would give you his opinion, he also was willing to listen to a counterargument,” the fire company said on its Facebook page.

The 1980 Pennridge High School graduate, who attended Bucks County Community College for Fire Science, started with the Sellersville Fire Department in 1979, later serving with the Tylersport Powerball (Jan. 13): 14-25-35-58-69 Power Ball: 24 Power Play: 2 Mega Millions (Jan. 12): 17-18-33-46-60 Mega Ball: 24 Megaplier: 4 and Quakertown fire departments before joining the Perkasie department in 2012.

At age 51, he tested for and received his national firefighting certification.

“It was a challenge for him, but he was proud he had gotten it,” Worthington said.

Irvin loved hockey and was instrumental in starting the Pennridge High School program; he also coached community, high school and college teams, according to obituary information.

Miller’s funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 at BeckGivnish Funeral Home, 7400 New Falls Road, Levittown. Irvin’s funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ, 110 N. Sixth Street, Perkasie. Full obituary information for Miller is on the Beck-Givnish website. Full obituary information for Irvin is on the Suess Funeral Home website. Online: HTTPS://KARLSLOTTERYBLOG.BLOGSPOT.COM