NCFR honors first responders

Nassau County Fire Rescue recognized numerous employees at its annual awards ceremony Aug. 8.

Fire Officer of the Year is Lt. Ken Barr. The award is for exemplary service and dedication to the job and awarded via Chief Brady Rigdon.

Barr has dedicated many hours both on and off duty to improve the mission of NCFR.  He was instrumental in creating, implementing and overseeing the department’s Awards Recognition Program. He has also been responsible for maintaining the department’s Bunker Gear Replacement Program, ensuring that all personnel remain safe on calls.  

Engineer Robert Hutchison received the Meritorious Service Medal.

On July 31, Station 20 responded to a residence for a patient that had an injury from a fall. Upon arrival at the residence, no one answered the door. Law enforcement and Station 20 crew found two occupants on the second floor of the residence, both with altered level of consciousness. As the crew assessed the patients, Hutchison returned to the rescue to retrieve the “Stair Chair” to move the patient to the rescue and a gas meter. Upon entering the residence, the gas meter carbon monoxide alarmed high. All occupants and crew were expedited from the residence. Hutchison’s quick thinking and experience removed the crew and patients from a potentially hazardous environment, protecting them from additional exposure and further injury.  

The Administrative Commendation Ribbon was awarded to 17 individuals who contributed considerable time to an effort that increases the operational efficiency of the department. The awards were given for the revision of Emergency Medical and Fire Standard Operating Procedures and the Apparatus Design Committee. 

Recipients for fire procedures included BC James Casteel, BC Mike Eddins, BC Chris Gamble and BC Pete Gunnell. EMS procedure recipients were BC Kelly Gunnell, BC Jeff Dodd, Lt. Ken Barr, Lt. Brian Sloan, Engineer Anthony Herrin, Engineer Brandon
McClellan, Engineer Matt Waggoner, firefighter Lauren Bassler and firefighter Joseph Driggers. Apparatus Committee award win-
ners were Lt. David Lee, Engineer Chad Edwards, Engineer Bill Harvey and Robert Ginder.

Newly promoted engineers include Zachary Alkire, Chris Arnold, Paul Buchman, Sean McKendree, Carl Nishiyama and Brandon Willemsen.

Eleven firefighters completed probation, including Kyle Adams, Brian Bausch, Dalton Cowart, Joseph Driggers, Josh Fitchett, Steven Henderson, Chris Keane, David Kirk, Stephen Lawson, Jeremy Staub and Zachary Williams.

The awards were presented at Journey Church in Fernandina Beach.