ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Funeral arrangements have been announced for the two firefighters killed while fighting a blaze in Schuylkill County on Wednesday.
A public viewing for Assistant Chief Zachary Paris, 36, and firefighter Marvin Gruber, 59, both of New Tripoli, will be from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at Northwestern Lehigh Middle School, 6636 Northwest Road, New Tripoli.
- Funeral services for the firefighters will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, at Northwestern Lehigh Middle School
- Paris and Gruber died fighting a fire that destroyed a home in West Penn Township on Wednesday
- The fire, labeled as suspicious, is being investigated
A private viewing will be held separately for all Lehigh County public service members and fellow Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescues Services members from noon to 2 p.m. in the middle school auditorium.
Private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at the middle school. The public is invited to view the livestream throughout other areas within the middle school and Northwestern Lehigh High School.
Parking will be limited, with some viewing areas available outdoors. Organizers encourage attendees to carpool and dress appropriately.
For those who can't attend, the service will be livestreamed through a link that will be publicized before the event.
“There are never the right words when a community suffers such a profound loss," New Tripoli Fire Chief Gary Kuntz said in a release from the department.
“Our number one priority is the families of both fallen heroes. What this town has lost is vast, but what their families have lost is immeasurable. It is our duty to ensure their needs are met today, tomorrow, and every day after that, and we are committed to [doing] so.”
Donations to the families can be made to New Tripoli Bank in the name of "The Fallen Heroes of New Tripoli," officials said. Contributions also are being accepted through a GoFundMe established by the bank, they said.
Paris joined the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli in 2010 and rose to the rank of Assistant Chief while serving on the Board of Directors, handling fire reports and mentoring others in the department. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, sister, and parents.
"There are never the right words when a community suffers such a profound loss."Gary Kuntz, New Tripoli Fire Chief
Paris was also a career firefighter with The Division of Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services in Frederick, MD. He began with them on Feb. 28 and graduated from the fire academy on Sept. 10.
Gruber joined the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli in 2020 and served on its board of directors. He worked at Northampton Community College for 22 years, the past 15 as a member of the Department of Public Safety. He is survived by his wife, two children, and three grandchildren.
Investigators labeled the fire "suspicious" and said an investigation is continuing.
Officials asked to respect the privacy of the Paris, Gruber, and New Tripoli Fire Company families during this difficult time and say that more information will be released in the coming week.
