Buffalo Township Fire Company honors longtime chief with ‘Comperatore Training Weekend’
BUFFALO TWP — Those who knew Corey Comperatore say he was at his happiest while in a firefighter’s uniform.
“He always had a smile on while when he was in his gear,” said Kip Johnston, a lifelong friend and former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company chief.
Comperatore, 50, died on July 13, 2024, while shielding his family from gunfire during an assassination attempt at then-candidate Donald Trump’s campaign rally.
To honor his 34 years of service and commitment to protecting the community he called home, more than a dozen members of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company participated in “Comperatore Training Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24 and 25.
“Training is what he lived for,” Johnston said. “He liked to make himself better and protect the community even more. Just to bring it forward and put a training on in his honor, it’s second to none.”
The two-day event was centered around learning the ins and outs of forcible entry techniques using various training props, along with practical work on commands, drags, moves and removal of downed firefighters.
In coordination with an out-of-state nonprofit, Brotherhood Designs, multiple firefighters came in from Indiana to guide the lessons.
While Nathan Ginley never met Comperatore, he’s heard the stories about how devoted he was to honing his skills.
“This job is obviously tough. It takes a lot of knowledge, skill and ability,” said Ginley, an Indiana firefighter with 18 years of training experience. “The more you train, the better you are and the safer we are to get home to our families and the better we are at serving the public. I’m glad we can give back to help train these guys and to carry on his legacy.”
The event was made possible through the charitable work of Brotherhood Designs, which creates flags and patriotic artwork from retired fire hoses while sharing the stories of those who have served communities across the country.
After contacting Helen Comperatore — Comperatore’s widow — in November 2024, the nonprofit received her blessing to construct a series of 10 flags to honor Comperatore’s legacy.
Brotherhood Designs co-owner and career Indiana firefighter Rob Demlow said most of those flags were made with material from Station 27.
Demlow also said the auction of two of those flags paid for the training company and door prizes for the event. Five others will be auctioned off to create scholarships for future firefighters.
“We’ve had a lot of talks with Helen, and I know he (Comperatore) would be very happy that we’re doing this,” Demlow said. “This is about his mission and his mission was being the best he could be on the fire ground.”
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Attendee David Barry, left, works to pry open a blocked door with the help of trainer Kyle Stewart, right during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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A practice door was given in honor of Corey Comperatore during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Attendee David Barry pries open a blocked door during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Attendee Bradley Timko practices prying a door open during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainer Nate Ginley demonstrates in opening blocked doors during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainer Nate Ginley demonstrates in opening blocked doors during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Attendee Gabe Bard practices prying a door open during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainer Kyle Stewart watches as Tabitha Lucas works on prying a door open during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Attendees watch as Gabe Bard works on prying a door open during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainer Nate Ginley demonstrates in opening blocked doors during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Attendee Gabe Bard practices prying a door open during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Attendees watch as David Barry work on prying a door open during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainer Nate Ginley demonstrates practices in opening blocked doors during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainer Nate Ginley, left, helps Shawn Hernandez during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Trainers Nate Ginley, right, and Kyle Stewart demonstrate in opening blocked doors during a volunteer firefighter training taking place in Corey Comperatore’s honor at Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sarver on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
