At just 18 years old, and not yet a senior in high school, Jacob Lazar was an Eagle Scout leader and volunteer firefighter. It's that dedication and volunteerism that his fire chief says Jacob will always be remembered by."To be 18 years old and the amount of dedication he had and the amount of helpfulness he had with everybody was amazing," said Paintertown Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Lee.Jacob Lazar died Thursday after being hit by a falling tree. Lazar was cleaning up fallen trees from a recent storm, with other volunteers, when he was struck. The coroner’s report says the tree slipped from an excavator bucket and hit him in the head."Jacob was a very easygoing guy. Helped anybody for anything, and unfortunately, that’s what he was doing that day, helping a friend," said Chief Lee. Jacob joined the Paintertown Volunteer Fire Department at just 14 years old as a junior firefighter, following the steps of his two older brothers who are also volunteer firemen within the department. He had just recently completed the requirements for Fire Fighter 1 certification. Now, his memory lives on in their hearts and outside their station with a display "The black represents mourning, it’s called bunting. And it’s draped over the seven for our station, and that is his actual fire gear right there," said Chief Lee. Jacob’s death impacted not only his fire department and family but also the surrounding community. The owner of Hometown Pizzeria and Eatery in Harrison City says she employs many students at Penn Trafford High School, where Jacob was a rising senior. Many of her employees knew Jacob. "No one expects to lose a child this young, so we wanted to do something for them," said owner Elizabeth Kane.The restaurant is holding an all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and pasta buffet on Wednesday for just $20 a person and $10 for children. One hundred percent of those proceeds go directly toward the Lazar family. Elizabeth Kane says this was not just a business decision, but a personal one as well."I’m a mother of six kids myself ages 21 down to 6, so I couldn’t imagine being Jacob’s parents in this situation. And I did feel in my heart that this was the right thing to do for them." said Kane. The fundraiser is July 10th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. There will also be a basket auction as well at the fundraiser.
IRWIN, Pa. —
At just 18 years old, and not yet a senior in high school, Jacob Lazar was an Eagle Scout leader and volunteer firefighter. It's that dedication and volunteerism that his fire chief says Jacob will always be remembered by.
"To be 18 years old and the amount of dedication he had and the amount of helpfulness he had with everybody was amazing," said Paintertown Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Lee.
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Jacob Lazar died Thursday after being hit by a falling tree. Lazar was cleaning up fallen trees from a recent storm, with other volunteers, when he was struck. The coroner’s report says the tree slipped from an excavator bucket and hit him in the head.
"Jacob was a very easygoing guy. Helped anybody for anything, and unfortunately, that’s what he was doing that day, helping a friend," said Chief Lee.
Jacob joined the Paintertown Volunteer Fire Department at just 14 years old as a junior firefighter, following the steps of his two older brothers who are also volunteer firemen within the department. He had just recently completed the requirements for Fire Fighter 1 certification. Now, his memory lives on in their hearts and outside their station with a display
"The black represents mourning, it’s called bunting. And it’s draped over the seven for our station, and that is his actual fire gear right there," said Chief Lee.
Jacob’s death impacted not only his fire department and family but also the surrounding community. The owner of Hometown Pizzeria and Eatery in Harrison City says she employs many students at Penn Trafford High School, where Jacob was a rising senior. Many of her employees knew Jacob.
"No one expects to lose a child this young, so we wanted to do something for them," said owner Elizabeth Kane.
The restaurant is holding an all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and pasta buffet on Wednesday for just $20 a person and $10 for children. One hundred percent of those proceeds go directly toward the Lazar family. Elizabeth Kane says this was not just a business decision, but a personal one as well.
"I’m a mother of six kids myself ages 21 down to 6, so I couldn’t imagine being Jacob’s parents in this situation. And I did feel in my heart that this was the right thing to do for them." said Kane.
The fundraiser is July 10th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. There will also be a basket auction as well at the fundraiser.
