Two Huskies Take Reins at Allentown Fire Department

Chiefs Wehr and Agosto
Photocredit: City of Allentown

Mayor Ray O’Connell has named two Dieruff High School grads to the top positions at Allentown Fire Department. Jim Wehr, a 24-year veteran, was named Interim Chief. Assistant Fire Chief Efrain Agosto Jr., first hired in 2003, has been promoted to deputy chief of operations. As deputy chief of operations, Agosto is second in command.

The City's current Chief, Lee Laubach, is retiring today. He served 25 years as a firefighter, and has been Chief since February 2015. A former firefighter of the year, he stood by his fellow firefighters when they went public over equipment malfunctions and shortages. Chief Laubach is credited with the city’s receipt of a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development toward the purchase of a new fire pumper.

Wehr is another Firefighter of the year, and also earned the Alfred W. Fischl Firefighter Service Award in 2014. The award is presented to an individual who has served the department for at least 20 years and has exemplified himself with consistent and dedicated work habits during that period. He first joined the department in 1994 after having served in the U.S. Air Force. He was promoted to Fire Specialist in 2005, later promoted to Lieutenant in 2006 and was promoted to Captain in 2010. Wehr was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2012. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University.

Agosto served in the US Army, was promoted to Fire Marshal/Inspector in 2012 and Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention in 2014. He is the recipient of five unit citations for his work within the department. He is pursuing a B.A. in Spanish and Political Science at Muhlenberg College.

Though these are solid picks, William Allen High School has commenced impeachment proceedings against Mayor O'Connell. Allentown Central Catholic HS is banning him from Rockne Hall.

Wehr and Agosto have already begun repainting the engines blue and grey.