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Firefighter Loses Battle With Cancer

This article is a direct street report from our correspondent and has not been edited by the 1st Responder newsroom.

It is with great sadness and regret we report the passing of Reading Firefighter James "Corky" Lerch Jr. Jim lost his battle with cancer only after a few short months surrounded by his family and friends. Jim served as a volunteer firefighter with the Neversink Fire Company in Reading for several years before being hired in June of 2001. After completing fire training he was assigned to the D platoon as a jumper. In February of 2002, FF Lerch was assigned to Engine 5. Jim would move to the A platoon in May 2010, when he took an assignment on Engine 1. In December of 2015, Jim transferred to the B platoon on Engine 3. In 2018, after working a few years on the B platoon, Lerch switched to the C platoon on the engine. Jim's career service spanned 19 years.

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JASON BATZCorrespondent

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