Vancouver Fire Department Awards Ceremony

0:00 Good afternoon everybody and welcome here as we are in 2026 but we are going to be celebrating for 2025 awards through the Vancouver Fire Department and just want to thank you for taking time out of this beautiful day where you could have been outside sunbathing and enjoying your favorite cocktail or something like that but that you chose to come here as we celebrate and you know this is a line of work where many times what we're dealing with is tragedy and it's important in all of our lives no matter what our line of work is is to take pauses and to reflect on the positives because usually the negatives are right in front of us and we have to be intentional to do this to slow down whether it be a relation

0:58 ship in your life whether you're a parent it's always good to slow down and appreciate your own kids and and so that's what we're going to do today I want to start by welcoming the mayor and thank her for coming out today the fire district five commissioners all the local four five two members and any other outside agencies that came to celebrate with us today we're going to be doing two main things today we're going to be looking at the heroic efforts of bystanders who went above and beyond to assist others in times of crisis so these are people where this isn't their profession this is something where they just happen to be somewhere when something tragic took place instead of just standing by instead of just grabbing their cell phone and taking a picture or hey let's you know live stream this crazy event they chose to step into action and we want to honor them

1:58 for that but also for the access exceptional achievements of our own firefighters who have shown outstanding dedication and courage as they do their job and many times as first responders you can look at it as just that I was doing my job but it's important to remember that a lot of these things yeah you showed up to work that day and you just did what you get paid to do but you did it with excellence because you've chosen to train and you've chosen to remain dedicated and so because of that you performed exceptionally well and that's what we want to highlight in this way here in a minute the honor guard is going to be bringing in the flags and we'll also be singing the national anthem and when we

2:52 do that I'm going to have you stand right before and they'll bring in the flags and then as we sing the national anthem if you are in uniform you can do render salute and if you are not in uniform just ask that you place your hand over your heart and so with that I would like to ask for Mia McKay to come up and stand up here and be ready for the national anthem you'll be able to just start singing once they get the flags placed and with that would you guys all please stand

3:42 and with the honor guard present colors. [applause] [music] [inaudible]

4:37 Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly

5:36 streaming And the rocket's red glare the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

6:30 [applause] You can be seated. I am playing two roles today and running the ceremony but also filling in for the chaplain as well. No, I actually am the chaplain and so we are going to open in prayer and I just invite you to join me as you feel comfortable. Father, I thank you that we are choosing to slow down and be intentional with this opportunity to reflect on the positive, to reflect on doing things well and just the extraordinary

7:30 efforts of both citizens and members of the Vancouver Fire Department. I just ask that you would help each one of us to just to be able to be present in this moment and to truly celebrate. Help those that are getting awards to be at peace with the fact that they're getting an award and be able to receive it and the appreciation that we as a department and those in attendance feel. And you would just guide this time in Jesus name I pray, Amen. All right at this time I would like to invite up Chief Drake to give some opening remarks. Chief

8:12 Good evening, Mayor, District 5 Commissioners, elected officials, dignitaries, our sworn and civilian members and our community at large. This is one of those public speaking engagements where it's absolutely a pleasure we look forward to because it's such a positive thing to recognize the importance of our members and when I say our members, I don't want to isolate that just to the sworn members who subject themselves to perils away but also our civilian staff and all those who contribute to the advancement of the VFD and our mission and goals.

9:09 You see our statement of purpose has mainly to do with protecting lives, property and the environment. And we say it in that order for a reason. We have members who are willing to subject themselves to perils way because they prioritize 300,000 people over a department and over themselves oftentimes they subject themselves to dangerous atmospheres, to environments that could cause harm and injury because they are committed to the ideologies we recognize in our mission statement and our goals. To preserve life, property and environment in that order. There's a reason lives are number one but I also don't want to forget to recognize the meritorious acts of our civilians as well for their acts of kindness and quick action

10:06 who also are willing to subject themselves to perils way for the same reasons. It's because they are altruists or benevolent in preserving life and contributing to the community and similarly to the fire department priorities. So I would like to recognize not just our firefighters but our sworn personnel and our civilians that will also be recognized both on and off duty for their exceptional service, for providing for exceptional public safety and emergency services. The VFD Vancouver Fire Department doesn't act alone in a lot of these events. We know that it takes a village, it takes a community and it takes all members to participate

10:57 in what makes us successful. Often times I like to talk about core values. One I get on my podium and I'm literally doing it right now about the importance of mission statements and visions and core values because they do mean a lot to me and character is one that is very prominent. These are people that are willing to maintain the integrity and the core ideologies to put the community ahead. Competency in what they do. Our firefighters train and they work earnestly at being the best they can be. Contribution. It is not just showing up to work. There's a lot more to it.

11:53 I can remember hearing for years when I was going to school so many people would say the last thing I want to do is fight traffic, wear a pencil, a suit and tie and have a job where I feel like I'm a cog in the wheel. So our firefighters, our sworn and civilian personnel also have the opportunity to derive significant gratification in the work they do because they do something that is of the utmost support and that's prioritizing the safety and welfare of our community. Last I'd like to thank everyone for being here. All community members because you're participating in a ceremony that I feel is warranted and deserving to recognize people in our community and our department who are altruistic, who are giving, who are good Samaritans who do prioritize community, department and members.

12:53 Thank you. [Applause] Well, we are going to get started with the ceremony. We switched things up a bit this year if you've been at prior award ceremonies where instead of just one person, don't worry, you do not have to listen to me read every single narrative that took place. What we are going to have is those that nominated either the individual or the group read the story of what took place of the events and so what I will be doing is inviting up that individual that did the nomination and you will be coming right up these stairs and coming to this podium and reading from this place and at the same time I will be inviting up

13:52 the nominee and you get to slowly move out of your row saying excuse me, excuse me as you go through and you will make your way over to those stairs and then you get the great pleasure of walking to the center of the stage and just like that and you can even slide in if you would like. Now I would ask that you hold your applause until after the nominator is done reading the narrative as they will begin reading it as the nominee is walking up and then we will all appreciate the nominee and then if you've been nominated you will then meet with the chief and he will be giving you your award and then don't rush off with it, you need to get your picture taken so that you all remember this and you can pass it down generation to generation that this actually took place.

14:49 So now we will first be recognizing citizens who went above and beyond and then we'll be moving on to the men and women of the Vancouver Fire Department. I'm going to read a quick overview of some of the awards that we will be presenting. The first one is a certificate of appreciation. It is presented to citizens or employees for good Samaritan activities and or efforts in support of the fire department's mission to protect life property and the environment. The life-saving award awarded to citizens or off-duty employees for assuming a level of involvement or risk that results in the preservation of human life and then the fire medal awarded to citizens or off-duty employees for extraordinary effort in saving a human life, reducing a serious injury or aiding in a significant reduction of property loss.

15:49 Then to the on-duty awards, individual commendation awarded to Vancouver Fire Department employees who make an exceptional contribution to the department, take on extra responsibilities or in other ways distinguish themselves. The company commendation awarded to Vancouver Fire Department units or companies that distinguish themselves in the performance of their duties or provide an exceptional contribution to the progress of the department by displaying superior teamwork or a display of exceptional professional skill in conduct. And then the meritorious service award awarded to the Vancouver Fire Department employees who distinguish themselves by a display of remarkable action, conduct or achievement that reflects positively upon the department. There are two other awards that we will be presenting, but we will read those when we get to that place.

16:48 So for the first award, I would like to invite up Captain Jared Grohn to the stage to present it and then would also like to invite up Kayla Edwards and Alex Dennis, who will be receiving the Fire Medal. >> All right, just my luck, this is my first time nominating somebody and it's the first time the nominator gets to get up and present, so okay, so in the early morning hours of February 2nd, Alex and another passerby who we were unable to locate came upon a severe single vehicle crash on northbound I-205.

17:40 A sedan had left the roadway, struck a line of trees and was nearly split in two. Inside they saw an unconscious driver and flames beginning to grow in the engine compartment. At the same time dispatcher Kayla Edwards was training a new hire when the call came in. Hearing the urgency in the caller's voice, she quickly gathered the critical details and guided the trainee through assessing the situation. Kayla took over dispatching due to the urgency needed. She provided calm, clear instructions, advising that if it was safe, the driver needed to be removed immediately. On scene, Alex and the passerby attempted to free the driver, but found the seatbelt jammed. Following the dispatcher's direction, they searched for anything that could cut the belt. The passerby used a fire extinguisher to hold back the flames while Alex used a pocket knife to cut the seatbelt and pull the injured driver to safety, just moments before fire overtook

18:39 the compartment. This rescue was the result of exceptional teamwork, Alex's courage on scene and Kayla's steady leadership and communication under pressure. Their combined actions helped save a life that morning. [applause]

19:20 All right, good job everybody. Next, I would like to invite up Captain Greg Smith to the podium and then also Brody Walton who will be receiving the Fire Medal and Paramedic John Moseley who will be receiving the Life Saving Award. Johnny's not here. He conveniently scheduled a Caribbean cruise.

20:12 All right, on August 23rd, 2025, Paramedic John Moseley was off duty at a family gathering when Brody Walton noticed an eight-year-old child lying motionless at the bottom of a pool. Brody immediately jumped in, brought the child to the surface and alerted the adults. John found that the child was not breathing and had only a weak pulse and quickly started life saving actions. To control the situation, drawing on his training, he began rescue breaths and provided first aid while others cleared space and stayed with the family. John continued to care until emergency crews could arrive. By the time EMS arrived, the child was breathing on his own again. The eight-year-old was admitted overnight for observation and released the next day,

21:03 fully recovered. Next, I would like to invite up Captain Katie Mercer and then also Ashley Lyon and Tony

21:46 Castro who will be receiving the life-saving award. On October 2nd of 2025 at 1400 hours, an A-line construction crew was cutting concrete on a park sidewalk when one of the employees collapsed and became unresponsive. Ashley Lyon was driving by and noticed the employee lying on the ground. She immediately pulled over and began shouting for assistance, but the machinery drowned out her voice. Once the machinery was powered off, Ashley continued calling for an AED while dialing 911. At the same time, city employee Tony Castro was nearby on an unrelated task when he heard Ashley's call for an AED. He ran to his work truck, retrieved the AED, and returned to assist.

22:46 Working together, Ashley and Tony applied to AED and delivered one shock. The patient regained consciousness and was talking by the time EMS arrived. The employee who was in cardiac arrest later walked out of the hospital and is reportedly doing well. This successful resuscitation was the direct result of Ashley's awareness and quick action paired with Tony's rapid response and teamwork. Their efforts played a vital role in saving a life.

23:25 Next, I would like to invite up Battalion Chief Mark Patchen, who will be presenting the awards to Captain Jared Grohn, Paramedic Josh Lawson, Firefighter Adam Pozguy, and they will be receiving the Life Saving Award.

24:24 On February 11, 2025, Captain Jared Grohn and Firefighters Josh Lawson and Adam Pozguy were off duty, talking in the front yard of Captain Grohn's home, when a neighbor suddenly ran toward them carrying her three-year-old child. The child was unresponsive and blue. Without hesitation, all three firefighters immediately began life-saving care. Despite having no EMS equipment, no monitors, and none of the tools they would normally rely on, they worked together to assess the child, provide airway support, and deliver the critical interventions needed in those first moments. Emergency crews arrived and transported the child to Randall Children's Hospital.

25:03 By the next day, the child was discharged with no deficits. [BLANK_AUDIO]

25:57 He was about to do a stunt off of the stage, and then land it. Next, I would like to invite up Captain Joe Hudson, who will be presenting the award to Paramedic Sean Zuffer and EMT Aiden Schrader for the Certificate of Appreciation.

26:53 >> On October 8th, 2025, Paramedic Sean Zuffer and EMT Aiden Schrader responded with engine four to a call for a 75-year-old male experiencing chest pain. Engine four arrived first, completed an initial assessment, and assisted with loading the patient into the ambulance before clearing the scene. While in the back of the ambulance, the patient went into sudden cardiac arrest. Working completely alone for approximately eight minutes, Sean and Aiden immediately began CPR, applied defibrillation pads, delivered a shock, and administered cardiac arrest medications. They also requested engine four to return code three to assist. By the time engine four arrived back on scene, the patient had regained a pulse and was conscious in talking. He was transported to Peace Health Southwest in stable condition. He made a full recovery and is here today.

27:46 >> Normally, normally, chief, normally a scene involving a cardiac arrest requires eight EMS personnel. Sean and Aiden proved their expertise and professionalism by reviving the patient by themselves. Sean and Aiden, will you remain on stage real quick, Doug, would like a quick photo with you guys? Thank you. Come on up, Doug.

28:43 [ Applause ] [ Music ]

29:13 >> This next award is for Chaplain Peter Schrader for the Meritorious Award. And actually, this is Aiden's father, so back to back, runs in the family. On September 17th, 2025, engines four and 11 and battalion two were dispatched to a devastating auto versus pedestrian incident involving a father and his young son. Despite the efforts of first responders and medical personnel, both victims tragically passed away from their injuries. The call quickly became one of the most emotionally challenging responses for everyone involved. Recognizing the profound impact of the incident, Chaplain Peter Schrader responded immediately. Upon arrival, he immediately began providing comfort and support to those affected. He spent time with bystanders who had witnessed the event, helping them process the shock and grief of what they had seen. He also offered support to VPD officers and fire personnel, many of whom were deeply affected

30:12 by the loss of life, especially involving a child. He remained on scene for more than six hours, long after all fire units had cleared, to comfort the grieving family and many witnesses affected by the event. He then went to the hospital to support the child's family during the most difficult times. In the days and weeks that followed, Chaplain Schrader continued to walk alongside the family and the community. He traveled to a Portland ICU when the family made the difficult decision to withdraw life-saving measures. He was present when the child passed away. He attended the Candlelight Vigil at the child's school and later officiated the joint celebration for both victims held at his very own church. Chaplain Schrader's compassion, steady presence, and willingness to step into the most painful moments brought comfort to countless first responders, community members, and grieving family.

31:09 Chaplain Schrader took a lot of time away from his own family to assist a family he didn't even know. Normally, Chaplain Schrader brings hope and support to first responders during our difficult times, but during the time that followed this strategy, he was a light for the whole community. His actions reflect the highest standards of human compassion and selflessness, helping many begin to heal from the tragedy of that day. [applause]

32:15 Okay. For this next award, I will be standing in for Chief Rob Milano and would like to invite up Captain Paramedic Ray Egan, Captain Paramedic Katie Mercer, Engineer Paramedic Ty Groman, Engineer Paramedic Ben Birtle, Engineer Paramedic Kevin Wilson, and Battalion Chief Ryan Morsy to receive the Certificate of Appreciation. Recently, the Washington State Department of Health updated the requirements for ongoing advanced airway training, prompting the Vancouver Fire Department to develop and implement a

33:13 completely new program for all 120 of our paramedics. During the month of October, the members of this team stepped forward to design, build, and deliver a top-tier advanced airway training program that met the new standards and ensured our paramedics remained fully prepared for critical, life-saving interventions. Their combined efforts included creating updated curriculum, coordinating with the Clark County Medical Director's Office, and providing hands-on instruction to every paramedic in the department. Much of this work required sacrificing personal time, yet each member remained committed to delivering high-quality training that directly supports patient care. Their contribution strengthened one of the most essential skills our paramedics possess.

34:12 Thank you. [Applause]

35:03 For this next award, we'd like to invite Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli, who will be presenting the award to Fire Code Officer Zach Prine for the individual accommodation. Fire Code Officer Prine is nominated for an individual accommodation in recognition of a steadfast dedication to community risk reduction. Officer Prine consistently assumes additional responsibilities by actively participating

35:59 in community risk reduction initiatives, including Project Home Safe, fire extinguisher training sessions, and even a multifaceted event held at Peace Health. Many of these activities occur on weekends or evenings; however, Officer Prine reliably attends and contributes to each event, regardless of timing demonstrating his dedication. Officer Prine exemplifies several key qualities that make him a skilled fire code officer and a leader within the Vancouver Fire Department. He possesses an in-depth knowledge of safety protocols, regulations, and practices, and he engages with community members, addressing their concerns and questions effectively. Congratulations.

36:48 [Applause] I'd like to invite Joe Disarmo and Shane Lebeck to the stage, please. We're giving a certificate of appreciation to both. Fire Code Officer Joe Disarmo conducted a comprehensive multi-week inspection at a large high-risk campus, uncovering critical fire and life safety hazards that required immediate action.

37:46 His thorough investigation identified unpermitted processes, unauthorized building modifications, and missing special hazard permits. These issues adversely affected emergency egress, fire protection systems, and the overall compliance with established safety codes. Officer Disarmo meticulously attention to detail brought longstanding problems to light and set the foundation for corrective action. Lead Deputy Fire Marshal Shane Lebeck promptly escalated these findings to leadership, utilizing them as strategic framework for a coordinated follow-up efforts. Lead Deputy Fire Marshal Lebeck organized a collaborative meetings with the facilities architect, engineers, and the fire marshal's office leadership team and city building officials to address systematic issues and establish a clear pathway towards immediate and long-term

38:44 fire and life safety compliance. Following these meetings, I actually received a letter of appreciation from the facility leader, commenting and commending the professionalism of the team, acknowledging the hazards that they identified, and ensuring their commitment to enhancing the operational safety and processes moving forward. Congratulations to you both.

39:25 Alrighty, next, I'd like to invite up Captain Leo Mercer, thank you for being ready, sir, who will be presenting the life-saving award to firefighter engineer, Shane Seth. On July 16th of 2025, while returning home from tech rescue drill, engineer Seth happened upon a traffic collision involving a motorcycle. Engineer Seth, using equipment that he carried in his own vehicle, started rendering aid to the patient prior to our arrival on engine nine.

40:25 And in doing so, also integrated as a part of the team, he assisted with bandaging the patient, controlling bleeding, and backboarding the patient, and then loading the patient into the ambulance. Engineer Seth's quick actions and rendering aid had our scene time at seven minutes, with recent studies showing the trauma scene times are about 14 minutes, we can quantify the impact that engineer Seth had on the scene. And this reward award being given to engineer Seth is not solely based on his actions that day, but actions over his distinguished career, and he's been an impact on many people at this department, he's been a mentor to a lot of people, myself included, and a model for people to look at, so this award is definitely deserved by engineer Seth, I'm very happy

41:13 that he got it. All right, for this next medal, I want to invite up Vancouver Police Department officer Zachary Old, who will be presenting the Meritorious Service Award to engineer paramedic Sam Dixon.

41:59 All right, I hate doing these things, but I'm up here. On May 6, 2025, engineer paramedic Sam Dixon responded to a highly sensitive incident involving a distressed child at the Hollingsworth Academy cruiser dispatch after report the child was in crisis on the roof of the school, and the situation was extremely tense. Engineer paramedic Dixon had a calm reassuring contact with the child. And when I asked him to assist, he immediately stepped forward. With the patience and steady communication engineer paramedic Dixon climbed up to the roof slowly approached, maintaining a supportive dialogue throughout his calm presence helped ease the child's panic, allowing him to safely reach her and guide her away from the edge.

42:57 Engineer paramedic Dixon's professionalism, empathy, and exceptional de-escalation skills directly prevented a tragic outcome. His actions that day exemplify the highest level of care and compassion in emergency response.

43:42 [applause] Sorry, I didn't mean to cut off your music so quickly. I will be reading the nomination on behalf of Chief Tim Kayes, and it will be to Chief Tim Kayes, I am sorry, yeah, I've always been trying to cut you out of things.

44:38 I would like to invite to the stage Chief Tim Kayes to present the next award for individual accommodation to Captain Brandon Weary and Captain Andrey Yalovitski. Captain Brandon Weary and Captain Andrey Yalovitski are nominated for the individual accommodation award. This is for their outstanding service and continued excellence within the Vancouver Fire Department's training division. As demands on training have grown, both captains have consistently risen to the challenge providing high quality and mission focused training.

45:35 This training has strengthened every level of the organization. Together these individuals have led recruit academies, delivered hands-on realistic training, introduced modern training methods, they have mentored new officers and firefighters, developed a comprehensive training props, and they've spent countless hours beyond their normal duties. Their shared leadership, innovation, and commitment have improved training efficiency, operational readiness, and built strong relationships both internal and external stakeholders. Captains Weary and Yalovitski exemplify professionalism, integrity, and pride in their roles. Their exceptional efforts not only elevate the performance of our members in the field

46:25 but also strengthen the long-term foundation and future of the Vancouver Fire Department. [music]

47:12 All right. My family's laughing at me. Is it the way I come around the curtain? Should I change up the approach? Well, I just want you guys to all know we're two-thirds of the way done and we're through this. Next, I would like to invite up Battalion Chief Shane Oram and he will be presenting the individual accommodation to Justin Walker. On behalf of Shane Oram, I'll be reading this for Justin. On the evening of November 7th, 2025, a large fire broke out at Metro Metals, quickly growing

48:10 into a prolonged and resource-intensive incident that lasted through the night and into the next afternoon. Vancouver firefighters operated four pumping engines, two elevated master streams, and multiple support units, flowing more than a million gallons of water to keep the fire contained. With apparatuses running nonstop, it became clear that fuel and maintenance needs would become a critical challenge. Around 10 p.m., Justin Walker was contacted for assistance. Without hesitation, he got out of bed and responded to support the operation. Throughout the night and into the next day, Justin worked tirelessly, refueling rigs multiple times, addressing mechanical issues, and shuttling supplies back and forth from the shops. Thanks to his dedication, not a single engine had to be shut down for fuel or maintenance

49:06 during the entire 18-hour incident. Justin's commitment, work ethic, and can-do attitude directly contributed to the uninterrupted suppression of a complex and demanding fire. His efforts went above and beyond expectations and played a vital role in the success of the operation.

49:51 Next, I would like to invite Chief Tom O'Connor, who will be presenting the individual accommodation to engineer paramedic Casey Holmes. As Casey walks up, before I read the formal award, a couple of comments about him. Casey is widely known in the fire service, and when I got this job in 2018, folks from Portland Fire Station 1724, they're battalion chiefs. Do you know Casey Holmes? Yes, I do. Seattle Fire. Do you know Casey Holmes? Yes, I do. Oil spill responder teams and the boat captains in Portland, "Hey, Tom, do you know Casey Holmes?" Yes, I do. We both live in floating homes on the Columbia River, so some of the residents there, "Hey, you work for Vancouver. Do you know Casey Holmes?" Yes, I do. And the last one's a little weird. On the bench on my 50 and over hockey team, one of my new teammates turns to me on the bench during a game and says, "You're a firefighter, right?" "Yeah." "You know Casey Holmes?" "Yeah."

50:51 "You know the answer. Say it with me." "Yes, I do." Okay. Now the Formula Award. Engineer Paramedic Casey Holmes is nominated for his remarkable achievements and leadership on the Vancouver Fire Department's Marine Team and as a member of the Maritime Fire and Safety Association's Regional Corps of Shipboard Firefighting Technicians. A U.S. Navy veteran and the most senior member of the Marine Team, Holmes has served for more than 20 years and currently is our Marine Lead Pilot. He has trained nearly every fireboat pilot and deckhand who followed him, played a key role in the design and commissioning of Fireboat One and now oversees Fireboat One and the boathouse maintenance programs. Engineer Paramedic Holmes is highly respected throughout the region, often representing the department as an evaluator for boat pilot testing and as a shipboard firefighting instructor. As he nears the end of an exceptional fire service career, the preparation he has done

51:50 to ensure a smooth transition for his successors reflects his steady leadership, commitment to service, and care for the people he works alongside. This nomination recognizes Engineer Paramedic Casey Holmes for his outstanding contributions and the lasting impact he has made on the Vancouver Fire Department's Marine Team and the Regional Shipboard Firefighting Program. Congratulations. [ Applause ] >> All right, for the next award, would Battalion Chief Eric Gaccino please come up and he'll

52:46 be presenting the company commendation to Captain Tony Clary, Pilot Mark Bennett, and Backhand Jake Wyron. You guys walk up like a great uniformed company in line. Did you practice it for a while? Yeah? All right, I'll be reading this on behalf of Chief Gaccino. On December 18, 2025, during severe winter weather, Vancouver Fireboat 1 played a critical

53:44 role in the search and recovery of a person who had entered the Columbia River from the I-205 bridge. While Engine 8 and Battalion 2 managed the incident from above, Fireboat 1 was the first unit on the water, immediately beginning a coordinated search in extremely rough conditions. With multiple agencies responding, Captain Clary organized the search area and coordinated incoming marine resources. While Pilot Bennett maneuvered the boat through heavy winds, fast currents, and debris, Deckhand Wyron worked alongside them, managing equipment, maintaining lookout, and supporting communications, ensuring the crew could operate safely and effectively in this storm. When Port of Portland's Rescue Boat 80 located the mail but suffered an engine failure, Pilot Bennett executed a difficult side-by-side approach, allowing crews to safely transfer

54:41 the patient and responders onto Fireboat 1. Bennett then navigated through debris-filled waters to the Marine Park boat launch, where the mail was transferred to AMR and continued care in rapid transport. Despite dangerous weather and rapidly changing conditions, the crew of Fireboat 1 demonstrated exceptional seamanship, communication, and teamwork. Their actions were instrumental in stabilizing a complex incident and ensuring the safest possible outcome.

55:31 [Applause] [Music] All right, for this next one, we'd like to invite up Battalion Chief Mark Patchen, who will be presenting the company accommodation to Captain Paramedic Joe Yala, Engineer Jesse Avery, Firefighter Cory Anderson, and Paramedic

56:29 Jennifer English. [Music] Hi, Jen. Jen will be representing the rest of the truck company today. On May 7, 2025, Truck 10 played a critical role in the response to a drowning incident at Lacomis Lake while monitoring the radio at the station, the crew heard Heavy Rescue 5 being dispatched and immediately self-responded because they were much closer and they had three technical rescue team members on the truck that day. Upon arrival, Paramedic English, already geared in her dry suit, entered the water within moments. Firefighter Anderson gathered information from bystanders and directed Paramedic English to the last known location.

57:26 Despite cold, murky water and depths of 10 to 12 feet, Jen made several rapid dives before locating the male and bringing him to the surface. Captain Yala entered the water to assist while Firefighter Avery supported operations from shore, preparing equipment and helping coordinate the extrication plan. As English and Yala brought the victim to land, Heavy Rescue 5 and additional units arrived to assist with getting the male onto shore and into the care of EMS. Thanks to the swift coordinated actions of the Truck 10 crew, the male was given the best possible chance at survival. And I responded to the call, but I wasn't in command. I think I was safety. But I had the best seat in the house to watch the truck arrive and within, I think, about four minutes they were in the water and had the victim up on the shore.

58:11 So it was impressive to watch the coordination and skill of the Truck 10 crew. And we will have Paramedic English stay on stage. The next award is for the Medal of Valor. It's awarded to Vancouver Fire Department employees who have exhibited exceptional courage to save or protect others from harm regardless of their personal safety.

59:10 So Paramedic Jennifer English is also nominated for her exceptional performance during the May 7th drowning response at Lachmus Lake. While the full incident has just been described, it is important to highlight Paramedic English's individual actions that made her role so critical. Paramedic English, geared up en route, arrived fully prepared for immediate water entry and obtained the last known location directly from Firefighter Anderson before entering the water. Despite extremely poor visibility, cold water, and entanglement hazards, Paramedic English conducted a series of rapid free dives demonstrating both technical skill and calm under pressure. On her fourth dive, she located the male at depth, brought him to the surface, and swam him to shore where EMS crews could begin advanced life support efforts. Paramedic English's readiness to decisive action and exceptional rescue capability gave the male the best possible chance of survival.

1:00:05 Her performance that day stands out as a remarkable example of technical rescue excellence. As a side note, I was standing by some other firefighters watching this occur and they all said, "I couldn't have done that," so thank you, Jen. [applause]

1:00:49 All right, for this very last award, I'm going to read the definition of it. It is the Chief's Achievement Award, which is presented by the Fire Chief to an employee that makes an exceptional contribution to the department and distinguishes themselves in the performance of their duties. To present this award, I would like to invite back up Chief Drake and also today's, this

1:01:30 year's recipient for the Chief's Award, Chuck Winkler. This is the final award of the evening and it is one that comes directly from myself. It is not given lightly and it represents more than a single action or moment. It reflects character, integrity and a level of commitment that defines what truly means to serve. I always say the operative word in mission statements when you're in public safety is service. Chuck is the epitome of service as one of our civilians. Here at the Vancouver Fire Department, we deliver exceptional service every day and

1:02:26 that level of readiness is only possible because the partners who support us behind the scenes. One of the most essential is our fire shop. When our fire engine doesn't start or it operates at its best, the consequences truly can be life or death. Our mechanics understand that responsibility and they meet it with professionalism, pride and an unwavering commitment to keeping our crews response ready. Much of that culture comes directly from the leadership of you, Chuck. Chuck came to Vancouver from the oil fields of Texas, Panhandle, first working for C-Tran before moving into the fire shop as supervisor. Under his leadership, the shop has maintained an incredibly diverse fleet, engines, ladder trucks, wildland vehicles, administrative vehicles, our new Fireboat One and Big Red, our foam pump.

1:03:24 Vancouver firefighters put heavy hours on our apparatus and Chuck's team is the reason reserves rotate smoothly. When I say reserves, those are the reserve apparatus that replace the front line apparatus when the front line apparatus need maintenance or repairs. He ensures that rigs get repaired at all hours and crews can count on their equipment every time the tones go off. Chuck also built strong relationships with our engineers, keeping an open door shop and teaching portions of the Engineer Academy to help new engineers understand the mechanical systems they rely on. As he prepares to retire and return to Lubbock, Texas, five years from now, not this year, we recognize, honor and thank him for 25 years and five more years of leadership, craftsmanship

1:04:18 and dedication. [applause]

1:04:55 >> All right, well, that concludes the award ceremony this year. Again, I want to thank you all for coming out, but first, can we give applause to all the nominators who thought they were just doing a good deed by filling out a piece of paper and as they say, no good deed goes unpunished and then they all got to engage in the wonderful career of public speaking. Can we tell them thank you very much? [applause] Lastly, I believe no matter what events we go to, there's always a take home thing for each one of us and I want to encourage each one of us today to, as we leave here, think of who can we go and appreciate.

1:05:48 Maybe it's a coworker, maybe it's a spouse or partner, maybe it's a family member or a child, maybe that neighbor that you struggle with, but think of a way to allow appreciation, to pause and find appreciation and let's just get better at appreciating one another and encouraging one another. So mine is to you guys. Thank you so much for coming. Appreciate you being here and have a great rest of your day. Thank you.