Marion County Fire District #1 hosted its annual Awards Banquet for personnel on February 21. More than 100 emergency personnel and their families attended the event.
Chief Kyle McMann says that the banquet is held every year to honor exceptional service to citizens in the Fire District’s service area. Marion County Fire District #1 provides fire and emergency medical services to 50,000 people over 80 square miles. It currently serves the communities of Four Corners, Middle Grove, Pratum, Macleay, Brooklake, Clearlake, Labish Center, and Chemeketa College Station.
“We are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals,” said Chief McMann. “Our personnel make real sacrifices in this line of work, and I feel extremely lucky to be part of this team.”
More than 100 career and volunteer emergency personnel responded to 8,026 emergency calls in 2019, a 5.3 percent increase over the previous year. Firefighters and EMS personnel went through 10,557 hours of training and participated in 42 community events to share life safety information with the public. The Fire District presented awards to the following individuals:
Years of Service
5 Years: Matt Bentz, Josh Darland, Chris Herring, Eli Kass, Chase Redman, and Nick Sines
10 Years: Seth Barnett, Anita DeVilliers, Ryan Stocks, and Scott Wildfang
15 Years: Mike Anderson and Mark Ramsdell
20 Years: Brian Cottings
25 Years: James Mulhern
40 Years: Ron Rosgen
50 Years: Wayne Weaver and Wayne Miller
55 Years: Bob Gerig
Volunteer Rookie of the Year – Jerold Martin
Career Rookie of the Year – Morgan Whaley
Volunteer EMT/Paramedic – Mitchell Wilson
Career EMT/Paramedic of the Year – Alisha Dodson
Volunteer Commitment to Public Education – Support Services Division
Commitment to Public Education – Paula Smith
Volunteer Excellence in Training – Kyle Milks
Career Excellence in Training Chief’s Outstanding Achievement Award
Mike Tinker Makenzie Hofmann
Volunteer FF of the Year – David Leja
Career FF of the Year – Matthew Bentz
Foxtail Award – Station #2 (Middle Grove)
Employee of the Year – Crystal Wooldridge
Hall of Fame Award
Division Chief Paula Smith