Emergency staff honored

WASILLA -- The Central Mat-Su Fire Department held an awards ceremony Tuesday to recognize the superb contributions of its staff over the last year.

Chief Jack Krill noted that 2004 was a peak year for the department both in terms of emergency calls and run volume, a fact due in large part to the fires caused by last March's windstorms, and thus special congratulations were in order.

The ceremony was intended to select staff from the department on the basis of their dedication and commitment, their outstanding performance, and their contribution to the city of Wasilla as a whole. Awards were given for Most Valuable Firefighter, Most Valuable EMT, Most Valuable Engineer, and Responder of the Year, among others.

"I'd like to give a very heartfelt thank-you from both the borough and the citizens of the borough," said Dennis Brodigan, director of Emergency Services for Mat-Su. "There's no tangible award we could ever hand out that would show our appreciation for these men and women's efforts."

However, tangible awards were indeed given Tuesday night, from the traditional plaques and certificates to an esoteric selection of door prizes such as flashlights, cookware, bedding, and free sandwiches and meals provided by the department's sponsors.

A special award known as the "Broken Spotlight" was also granted to a pair of staff members who proved, as Assistant Chief Steve Lopes put it, that to err is human. Specifically, the two staff members were "commended" for their ability to "put vehicles in very unique positions, hitting very unique things," said Lopes. This year's winners received good-natured jibing owing to their propensity for backing rescue vehicles into residents' houses.

Among the more unusual awards, in addition to the Broken Spotlight, given at the ceremony were more than 100 clear sculpted plaques given in recognition of exceptional service during the March 2003 windstorms, when calls made to the department for the month nearly doubled from their norm. "These awards express our thanks for the responders who contributed countless hours to the windstorm relief effort," Krill said.

The award for Explorer of the Year was given to Travis Heintzman, a member of the department's Explorer Program, operated in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America. Through this program, young men aged 14 to 21 can train under supervision from the department in preparation for becoming certified firefighters when they reach the proper age.

Thanks were also given to Matanuska Towing and Recovery and Knik Towing and Wrecking for donating nonfunctional cars for paramedics to practice vehicular rescues, and Tesoro Station No. 12 (at the intersection of Parks and Main) for donating countless gallons of coffee to the effort.

Assistant Chief Denny Tranel also received special recognition for his efforts in coordinating and participating in emergency runs, a distinction that was made more poignant by Tranel's impending year-long tour of duty in Iraq. "I'd like to thank Denny Tranel for his very long and dedicated hours spent promoting paramedics training in the Valley," Brodigan said.

The fact that all of the men and women at the ceremony must be ready to enter action with little or no notice was proven when scanners around the room crackled to life halfway through the event. A car was in the ditch, and a 10-minute intermission was called while several people in the room suited up and went out to handle the accident.

Even when celebrating their accomplishments, the Valley's emergency staff is constantly vigilant.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.