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LONG‐TIME EDGE HILL FIRE COMPANY CHIEF RETIRES, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF STEPS INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE
November, 2009

NORTH HILLS – After 15 years as the Chief of Edge Hill Fire Company, Charlie Rohrer has decided to retire and will be succeeded by his deputy chief, Frank Schuck.

The change in leadership became effective Nov. 5th, and both men agree that the transition has been smooth, given the fact that they have literally worked side‐by‐side as chief and deputy chief for the last 12 years. The two volunteer firefighters also live two houses apart in Abington Township, and often ride in together when the alarm sounds.

“I told Frank I was thinking about retiring and I asked him if he was ready, and he said he was,” said Mr. Rohrer. “Se we told the other officers, held a vote, and made it official at a fire company meeting.”

Mr. Rohrer has been a member of the Edge Hill Fire Company for 37 years – a tradition that was started in his family three generations ago. Being a firefighter was “in the blood,” so to speak, and Mr. Rohrer said he loved the excitement of the job. Over the years, he has spent countless hours fulfilling the role of chief – it was not unusual for him to be out at least one night a week on emergency calls.

“Every day you learn something new when you first become chief,” said Mr. Rorher, who spent a lot of his first days as chief observing. “Someone once told me, ‘You don’t talk very much,’ and I said, ‘Sometimes you learn more by listening.’”

During his tenure, Mr. Rohrer helped ensure that Edge Hill and the other four companies that make up the Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) came together as a result of the accreditation process designed to enhance our delivery of service to the community. He enjoyed bringing together a diverse group of individuals so that everyone could be “on the same page.” Mr. Rorher was also responsible for bolstering the image of Edge Hill by helping the station to acquire three new trucks, and overseeing an addition to the station.

“He was an exemplary chief,” said his successor, Mr. Schuck. “He exhibited very good leadership just in the way he handled day‐to‐day activities and kept morale up.”

Mr. Schuck has been an Edge Hill Fire Company member for 24 years, and is the second generation of his family to be a volunteer firefighter. He said he has always aspired to one day be chief, and that it was a natural step to take after serving as Charlie’s right‐hand man for so long.

“I grew up with it. There wasn’t a dinner that didn’t go by that wasn’t interrupted by a fire call,” joked Mr. Schuck.

Mr. Schuck said he hopes to maintain what Mr. Rorher has been able to accomplish and will focus on recruiting young members to ensure that Edge Hill continues.

“For the whole township, recruitment is an ongoing goal,” said Mr. Schuck. “We need new blood.”

For now, both Mr. Schuck and Mr. Rorher are working together to ensure a seamless change in leadership. Mr. Schuck said it will take some time to become accustomed to his new duties as chief, but he is glad that he has Mr. Rorher to lean on for support.

“Charlie will still be a big part of this company,” said Mr. Schuck.

Edge Hill Fire Company is located at 2843 Limekiln Pike in North Hills. Edge Hill is one of the five companies that comprise the ATFD. For more information, call (267) 536‐1055 or visit AbingtonFD.org.