FREDERICKTOWN — The Fredericktown Community Fire District was recently presented the 2010 Ohio Volunteer Fire Department of the Year Award. The ceremony was conducted at the Ohio Department of Public Safety, ODOT auditorium in Columbus on Oct. 7. This is the first year for the award.
“Each day in Ohio, firefighters save lives and perform countless noteworthy acts of caring, kindness and service to their community,” said Thomas J. Stickrath, Ohio Department of Public Safety director. “These awards are a tribute to those individuals and organizations whose overall contributions go beyond their basic duties and responsibilities, and who represent the finest traditions of the fire service.”
Currently, Ohio has the commitment and dedication of 50,000 firefighters and more than 40,000 EMTs who provide a fundamental community service every day.
The Ohio Fire Awards recognize outstanding achievements in Ohio’s fire community and honor those whose accomplishments rise above the day-to-day excellence in fire training, education and safety.
The 2010 Ohio Volunteer Fire Department of the Year Award honors an Ohio volunteer department that has demonstrated outstanding teaching characteristics and because of these attributes has made a major impact in the fire education in their community and department, said China L. Dodley, public information officer for the ODPS.
“The chief (Scott Mast) vigorously pushed our training and the firefighters had to take it under their wing and go with it. It’s the participation level at the training end of it that made great advances rather than coming in here and sitting behind a television screen. Instead of saying ‘Wow that’s neat,’ we went out there and did it,” said Dwayne Canter, FCFD assistant chief about their training.
FCFD chaplains Duane VanHorn and Mike Daley held a moment of silence and prayer before the ringing of the bell to honor fallen firefighters during the awards ceremony.
The Fredericktown Community Fire District serves a 115-square-mile area of Knox County, protecting over 8,500 residents from a single station situated on Columbus Road. For more information about the department, visit www.fredericktownfire.net.
“Our work isn’t done, we still need to improve on what we have, because the possibilities are endless,” added Canter.
Additional awards were presented to: Ohio Fire Service Instructor of the Year: Brian Gulat, of Milford; Ohio Fire Prevention Educator of the Year: Robert Smith of Cincinnati; Ohio Fire Officer of the Year: Robert Reinholz, fire captain of Cleveland Heights; and Ohio Fire Educator Lifetime Achievement: Jerome Barhorst, fire chief of Fort Loramie.
