Firefighters remember Corey Comperatore, chief killed at Pa. Trump rally: ‘One of them guys you wanted to go into a fire with’
BUFFALO TWP., Pa. — As a would-be assassin took his shot at former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore scrambled to protect his family in the line of fire.
It would be his final heroic act, but firefighters in rural Butler County who knew Comperatore say they’re not surprised by the father’s selfless actions.
“His two girls and his wife was everything,,” Kip Johnston, fire chief and 43-year veteran of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, told the Post. “…Couldn’t ask for a better [firefighter].”
Comperatore served as chief of the volunteer company for a couple years in the early 2000s before cutting back his role to focus on his family.
He remained an active firefighter and member of his community until his tragic death at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds.
“He was one of them guys you wanted to go into a fire with, cause you knew you were coming back out,” said fire company president Randy Reamer, a 15-year veteran. “Sh-t hit the fan, and you were coming back out with him.”
Johnston and Reamer said Comperatore was always vocal about his conservative political views, but never antagonized those who did not agree.
“You knew his [political] stance,” Reamer said. “If you accepted it, that’s fine. If you didn’t, that’s fine. He didn’t care.”
Asked by The Post to name his “favorite Corey story,” Johnston quipped: “Can’t put that on record!” The chief said they shared many good times together.
“Great leader, great family man, good friend,” Johnston said of Comperatore.
The chief’s wife, Lee Johnston, was a teacher at nearby Buffalo Elementary School — which Comperatore’s two daughters attended during her employment. While she did not have the Comperatore girls in class, she spoke fondly of the entire family.
“We’ve had a very close relationship, not only at the fire company, but outside of the fire company as well,” Mrs. Johnston said. “Their whole family is just very sweet people.”
On Sunday, the American flag outside the firehouse was lowered to half-staff in Comperatore’s honor.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who also described Comperatore as a local hero, ordered flags in the state to be flown half staff in his honor.
