Swoyersville firefighter, EMT found dead in SUV

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.comStaff Writer

HANOVER TWP. – News of Ryan Broghamer’s death on Tuesday spread quickly in Swoyersville, where emergency medical technicians and volunteers draped a black cloth on a firefighters memorial stone and across the garage bay doors at the Maltby Volunteer Fire Department, Station 73, on Owen Street.

Formerly of Forty Fort, Ryan Broghamer, 25, was found dead Tuesday.

Submitted photo

“He was here for everybody,” said Swoyersville Police Community Ambulance Director Robert Koval. “He lifted everyone’s spirits.”

The 911 dispatcher and first responder with the fire department was found dead inside a burned SUV on Tuesday morning.

Broghamer, 25, formerly of Forty Fort, was discovered by Hanover Township firefighters after they extinguished a fire that destroyed a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind an apartment building at 589 Fellows Ave. around 4 a.m., police said.

Township police and state police deputy fire marshal Trooper Ron Jarocha are investigating the blaze, Police Chief Al Walker said. He said the fire is not considered suspicious at this time.

Koval said Broghamer became a member of the Maltby department and the Swoyersville Police Community Ambulance about six years ago.

“He moved up the ranks and became (ambulance) deputy director,” Koval said.

In February 2004, Broghamer completed a six-month certification course to become an emergency medical technician. He formerly worked as an EMT in Forty Fort and Wyoming.

“Ryan will always be remembered as a person who gave 120 percent to these organizations,” a news release from the Maltby Fire Department says. “He served first as a volunteer and then as an employee of the Ambulance, and as an active firefighter for Maltby with a special passion for brush fires.

“Ryan had a unique gift of always looking at life from the humorous side and left everyone he came in contact with on a daily basis smiling and sometimes laughing at our own shortcomings. Ryan also enjoyed his ‘quiet time’ and always took advantage of any opportunity to pursue that interest. Ryan was also a gifted musician and always made a contribution to whomever he shared the stage with.”

Broghamer, a graduate of Wyoming Valley West and Wilkes University, where he earned a degree in communications, dedicated his life to his community, Koval and friends said.

Hanover Township firefighters responded to the vehicle fire behind the former Hartman’s Restaurant around 4 a.m. and discovered a body in the vehicle. Broghamer had recently moved to the apartment building.

Jules Stephenski, of Fellows Avenue, said his wife was awakened by a loud bang, believing someone crashed into their pickup or was attempting to open their locked cellar doors.

Robert Farrow, of Garrahan Street, also was awakened by the noise he thought was gunshots.

“I looked out the window, the police were here shining lights on the houses, and I saw the flames over the fire truck,” Farrow said.

Police said determination of the cause and manner of death is pending toxicology results and the findings by the state police fire marshal.