72: Lt. Kirk Litzenberger

First Responder, Firefighter

As a First Responder and firefighter in the city of Reading, Lieutenant Kirk Litzenberger’s duties range from fire investigation to emergency management . During the covid pandemic, his primary goal was to keep his staff safe. He, along with his team, spent hours on the phone trying to locate masks and gloves. He along with other fire marshals researched as much as possible about covid to prepare as best as they could. 

Procedures and protocols did change. Socializing in off hours ended. Personnel was spread out and socially distanced from one another. Protection became paramount when doing calls. 

Because he and his wife are first responders, they had to quarantine often to make sure relatives and friends were not exposed due to their exposure. His hope for the future is that people continue to become educated and more prepared to control future outbreaks more effectively.