Davey Tree Flipbooks

Davey Bulletin May-June 2019

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides residential and commercial tree service and landscape service throughout North America. Read our Flipbooks for helpful tips and information on proper tree and lawn care.

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16 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | May/June 2019 Matt Smith, Chris Weitoish and Ron Weitoish helped save an elderly couple's house from catching fire. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE Thick smoke billowed across the rural right-of-way Matt Smith, Chris Weitoish and Ron Weitoish were maintaining for the United Electric Cooperative account. Soon the pungent smell of fire filled the bare Pennsylvania winter woods. "We were finishing up when we noticed a lot of smoke," Matt Smith said. "I'm sitting in the mower watching, and Chris got out of the sky trim and went looking through the woods at this house. I thought somebody was just burning a coal burner, stoking it up." The smoke died down somewhat, and as they were leaving the right-of-way a volunteer firefighter flew by in a pick-up truck with lights and sirens blaring. Matt and Chris grabbed the fire extinguishers in their truck and headed back towards the house. At the house, they encountered the volunteer firefighter – with no firefighting equipment – on the roof of the house, where smoke puffed from the chimney. The firefighter grabbed the Davey fire extinguishers and entered the basement of the house. He emptied the extinguishers' contents up into the chimney, dousing a flue fire that had developed. Soon, the rest of the local fire department arrived and Chris and Matt returned to work. INTEGRITY An infirm elderly couple had been home, unaware of the near-disaster looming. The next day Rob Kunselman, general foreman, went back to the house to retrieve the spent fire extinguishers. "Their daughter was there," Kunselman said. "She said we saved her mom and dad's life. The local fire chief had told her, another 15 minutes and the house would have been totally engulfed." Word soon traveled to the desk of the president and CEO of United Electric Cooperative, Brenda Swartzlander, who wrote a letter thanking Matt, Chris and Ron for their help saving two of the utility's customers. "Chris, Matt and Ron's dedication saved them from harm, and for this, we are so grateful to them and Davey Tree," Swartzlander said. "This crew demonstrated an 'above and beyond' work ethic. Davey's outstanding performance has been recognized by everyone here at United. We are fortunate to have them working on our property."

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