SUMMIT HILL, Pa. — Claudia Sokol, a Fire Police officer with Diligence (Pa.) Fire Company No. 1, suffered a medical emergency and died while on traffic-control duty at a motor vehicle crash scene.
FirefighterCloseCalls reports that members of Diligence and Lansford fire departments as well as ambulance crews from Lehighton and Lansford provided Officer Sokol immediate medical attention. She was flown to St. Luke’s Hospital.
She leaves behind a husband and other family members.
Fire Police are volunteer fire company or department members who receive sworn police powers, special training and support firefighting efforts at moderate to major incidents. In addition to securing firefighting equipment, incident and fire scenes, and the station itself, Fire Police perform traffic and crowd control.
On occasion, Fire Police also assist regular police by performing road closures, traffic control, crowd control at public events, missing persons searches, parade details, salvage, security and other miscellaneous tasks as requested.