Friday April 27, 2012 was a special, and historic, evening for Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the Cornelius Fire Department as the first ever joint awards banquet was held by the two fire departments. Since January 2011 Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the Cornelius Fire Department have shared Fire Chief Michael Kinkade as the leader of both departments, and in that time the two departments have increased training together and worked to make standardized equipment and operational practices; joining forces with our families for the annual awards and recognition dinner was the next logical choice to strengthen the relationship. Current firefighters from both departments gathered with their loved ones at the Forest Grove Armory and shared the event with retired firefighters as well as City and Rural Fire District leaders to recognize the work and service that individual firefighters have provided to the community during the 2011 calendar year. Forest Grove's own Izgara Middle Eastern Cuisine provided an exceptional banquet of diverse foods that were enjoyed by all who attended as nearly fifty people were called to the stage to receive awards, honors, and accolades from Fire Chief Michael Kinkade for their service to the community. Special recognition was given by the Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District who provided the Forest Grove Firefighter's Association with $4,000to help support volunteer firefighter training as well as the Association's mission of funding community service projects and relief for those effected by emergencies. During the banquet a very special presentation was made to retired FGF&R Fire Chiefs Robert Mills, and Bob Davis. Current Fire Chief Michael Kinkade presented each of his predecessors with a special "Retired Fire Chief" badge and Chief Davis received a shadow box that showcased his long career that started in the 1960s in California. Currently active firefighters were recognized with the following honors at this year's event:
Years of Service Awards
5 Years of Service
- Division Chief Ian O'Connor FGF&R
- A Shift Firefighter Rick Ilg FGF&R
- A Shift Firefighter Will Murphy FGF&R
- B Shift Firefighter Ivan Bratchuk FGF&R
- Volunteer Firefighter John Phelan CFD
10 Years of Service
- C Shift Captain Marc Reckmann CFD
15 Years of Service
- A Shift Lieutenant George Robards CFD
- B Shift Firefighter Tony Carter FGF&R
20 Years of Service
- Lieutenant Sheila Jackson CFD
25 Years of Service
- A Shift Captain Joe Smith FGF&R
- B Shift Captain Mike Lanter FGF&R
30 Years of Service
- C Shift Captain Dwight Lanter FGF&R
Rookie of the Year
- Andy Gramer - Station 7 FGF&R
- James Callahan - CFD
Firefighter of the Year
- Chad Toomey - Station 4 FGF&R Volunteer Firefighter of the Year
- Rick Ilg - FGF&R Career Firefighter of the Year
- Kevin Ritcheson CFD Firefighter of the Year
Officer of the Year
- Battalion Chief Rob Hutchens - Station 4 FGF&R Volunteer Officer of the Year
- Captain Joe Smith - FGF&R Career Officer of the Year
- Captain Steve Black - CFD Officer of the Year
Fire Chief's Award
- Firefighter Tony Carter - FGF&R
- Division Chief Rob Marcoff - CFD
Unit Citations
- SW Dilley Road Cardiac Arrest Save 10.24.11
- Mike Lanter, Tad Buckingham, Tony Carter, Cody Brown, Damian Peters, Geoff McFarland
- Barlow Court Cardiac Arrest Save 9.16.11
- Marc Reckmann, Matt Meyer, JC Butler, Trevor Storms, Andrew Jensen, Jeff Lewis, Steve Moreland, James Callahan
- SW Golf Course Road Cardiac Arrest Save 9.29.11
- Steve Black, James Callahan, Jeff Lewis, Kevin Ritcheson, Colin Scott, Emmett Middaugh, Jordan Summer
No comments:
Post a Comment