Benefit draws huge crowd to support injured Pa. firefighter

By Eric Mark
The Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

DALLAS TWP. — Injured firefighter Ed Nulton has lots of friends.

That was clear Sunday at the packed Kunkle Fire Company social hall. The hall filled up before the scheduled 2 p.m. start of a benefit to raise funds for Nulton’s medical expenses related to injuries he suffered while serving his community last month.

Nulton, 62, was struck by a dump truck as he directed traffic at the scene of an accident in Monroe Twp., Wyoming County in the early morning of Sept. 21.

Seriously hurt, he was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment.

One month later, Nulton has emerged from a coma but is still in the hospital and faces a long road to recovery from a traumatic brain injury, according to his son, Jesse Nulton.

“He’s stable, but he is still in post-acute care,” Jesse Nulton said at Sunday’s benefit, which featured a spaghetti dinner and basket raffle.

Nulton said his father has opened his eyes and is making progress. He gets plenty of visitors.

Ed Nulton has received overwhelming support from his fellow Kunkle firefighters and other emergency responders, Jesse Nulton said.

“They stick with their brother,” he said.

Jesse Nulton and his sister, LeeAnn Knoss, said their father joined the Kunkle fire police because he wanted to make a difference in his community. Kunkle firefighters serve Monroe Twp., where Ed Nulton lives, as well as Dallas Twp.

“He wanted to help out,” Jesse Nulton said. “He liked volunteering.”

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Their father’s ordeal highlights the dangers emergency responders face even at scenes that appear to be under control, Nulton and Knoss said.

The driver of the truck that struck Ed Nulton near the intersection of routes 309 and 29 said he never saw him, according to Jesse Nulton.

“I wish people would slow down,” he said.

When asked if their dad will return to the fire service someday if his physical condition permits, Knoss and Nulton answered instantly.

“Oh, yeah,” they said in unison.

“If he is able to, he will,” Knoss said.

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(c)2018 The Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)