MANATEE COUNTY – While residents were hunkering down during the wind and rain as then-Tropical Storm Debby swept by the Gulf coast on Aug. 4, West Manatee Fire Rescue’s A shift was responding to multiple calls.
Over the course of a 24-hour shift, the department’s staff responded to more than 50 calls. WMFR Commission Chair Derrick Warner was so impressed with the team’s work and dedication during the storm that he presented them with a Commissioner’s Unit Citation Award during a Sept. 10 board meeting at the district’s administration building.
The Unit Citation Award is given to a crew, unit or entire department for exemplary performance during a fire or other emergency where the participants act as a team to efficiently bring the situation under control. Receiving the award for work during Debby are firefighter/medic Jerrod Apple, firefighter/medic John Balzer, firefighter Nathan Bergbom, firefighter William Bowen, Lt. Cameron Frazier, firefighter/medic Gabriel Gonzalez, Deputy Chief Jay Johnson, firefighter Gavin Johnston, Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski, firefighter Brooks Larkin, Capt. James Leigh, Battalion Chief Tyler MacDonald, firefighter Samuel Martinez, firefighter Dane Miller, firefighter Chris O’Kelly, Chief Ben Rigney, firefighter Tyler Snyder and Training Chief Mark Tuttle.
During an August board meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to bestow the award on the group for their response efforts during the storm.
“They functioned well as an organized team to deliver emergency services over 50 times in one shift. Their mission was to reduce the devastation of Hurricane Debby on Aug. 4, 2024, and they did a great job,” Warner said of the team. “It’s certainly a reflection on their training, their organization, their leadership and their ‘get it done’ attitude. The board of commissioners is deeply grateful and appreciative of the efforts demonstrated by shift A and the others over a very long day.”
