West Manatee Fire Rescue awards Archives

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WMFR hands out annual district awards

Written by SUN contributor on January 23, 2024. Posted in Community News, Featured, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

MANATEE COUNTY – Commissioners and staff at West Manatee Fire Rescue kicked off the new year on a festive note as the district presented its annual awards, recognizing the contributions to the department and community made over the previous year.

Taking home the year’s top honors were firefighters Cameron Frazier and David Miller, who were awarded Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year, respectively. Frazier also received an award in recognition of his 10 years of service to the fire district. Miller was recognized for completing his first year with WMFR.

The Rookie of the Year award went to Zackary Misiura while firefighter Jerrod Apple took home the Soteria award, named for the Greek goddess of safety, deliverance and preservation from harm.

Firefighter Mark Tuttle received an award in recognition of his first year of service with WMFR. Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski received recognition for his 15 years with the district. Though not present, firefighter Nathan Bergbom received an award for 25 years of service and firefighter William Bowen received recognition for 20 years of service.

Commissioner Robert Bennett was recognized for serving as the board chair in 2023.

Commissioners also congratulated firefighter Casey Fischbach for her promotion to firefighter second class.

Firefighter Zackary Misiura took home WMFR’s Rookie of the Year award. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Commissioner Larry Jennis congratulates firefighter David Miller on his Firefighter of the Year award win. - Kristin Swain | Sun

WMFR firefighter Jerrod Apple receives congratulations from Deputy Chief Jay Johnson on his win of the 2023 Soteria award. Firefighter Cameron Frazier received the Officer of the Year award. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Commissioner Robert Bennett was recognized for his time as chair of the fire district’s board of commissioners in 2023. - Kristin Swain | Sun

WMFR firefighter Jerrod Apple receives congratulations from Deputy Chief Jay Johnson on his win of the 2023 Soteria award. - Kristin Swain | Sun

WMFR honors outstanding staff members

Written by SUN contributor on February 21, 2022. Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue’s staff and commissioners celebrated excellence in the district with their annual awards ceremony.

The ceremony, held Feb. 15 at the district’s administration building, celebrated the hard work and dedication of the fire district’s staff and first responders with their family, friends and co-workers in attendance.

Taking home awards for five years of service to the district were firefighters Frank Agresta, Clayton Lease and Andrew Powers. Powers also won WMFR’s Meritorious Service Award. Honored for 10 years of service with WMFR were Fire Inspector Josh Adkins, firefighter Robert Haygood and newly-promoted Battalion Chief Tyler MacDonald. Recognized for 15 years of service to the district were firefighter John Balzer, Deputy Chief Jay Johnson and Lt. Andrew Lauricella. Taking home awards for 20 years of service at WMFR were Capt. Paul Hopkins and Lt. Daniel Tackett. Recognized for 25 years of service was Lt. Darren Vollmer.

The Rookie of the Year Award went to firefighter Gabriel Gonzalez, while Haygood won Firefighter of the Year. Hopkins took home the Officer of the Year Award.

Winning the first-ever Soteria Award was Fire Inspector Keith Miller. The Soteria Award, named for the Greek goddess of safety, deliverance and preservation from harm, was created by Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski with the support of Chief Ben Rigney to honor a firefighter or member of the district’s Fire Prevention Bureau who exemplifies one of the three qualities of Soteria. Every member of the district’s fire staff is eligible to win the award except the fire chief, deputy chief and fire marshal.

Miller took home the first Soteria Award for his dedication and uncompromising work with fire prevention to educate WMFR staff and the public about fire safety and work to help educate contractors about best practices to reduce false/nuisance alarm calls to district personnel over the past year.

Firefighter Andrew Powers was honored with a Meritorious Service Award along with an award for five years of service to the fire district. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Firefighter Clayton Lease took home an award for five years of service with WMFR. - Kristin Swain | Sun

The audience at the WMFR administration building was packed with friends, family and district personnel for the annual awards ceremony. - Kristin Swain | Sun