Trending Topics

Pa. fire chief dies after teaching at wildfire academy

Carsonville Fire Chief Dave Warfel died after a day of instructing at the Wildland Fire Academy at Shippensburg University

The Sentinel

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — A state forest supervisor who was an instructor at the Wildland Fire Academy at Shippensburg University died on Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said.

Dave Warfel, the forest district maintenance supervisor at Weiser State Forest, died after spending the day instructing and mentoring wildland firefighters, said department Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn in a statement released Friday.

No other details were available.

Warfel was also the Carsonville Volunteer Fire Company Chief in Dauphin County.

The manner of death will be determined by the Cumberland County coroner.

More than 400 people are participating in the annual Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Academy at Shippensburg University which offers hands-on activities designed to simulate conditions that they may encounter during a wildfire assignment.

The Weiser State Forest encompasses about 30,000 acres in seven counties in the central part of the state.

Trending
Colorado State University Pueblo operates like a small city, providing food, fuel, repairs, medical support and rest for hundreds of firefighters battling the Aspen Acres Fire
Maple Grove Fire Chief Maddison Zikmund was placed on administrative leave after being charged with sexually assaulting a teenage fire cadet while serving with another department in 2017
With drought, extreme heat and firefighter fatalities, wildfire managers are strategically moving crews, aircraft and equipment to areas most at risk
A Lawrence firefighter pulled a trapped man through a window as crews from multiple departments battled a large fire for hours

© 2025 The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.).
Visit www.cumberlink.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.