(VERNON, Connecticut) – Volunteers with the Town of Vernon Fire Department honored their own Monday and three firefighters received the Medal of Valor for their rescues of people trapped on the upper floors of the burning Fitch Block back on December 20th, 2020.
Firefighters Matthew Kenzior, Nicholas Bush and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Babcock each rescued a person who was trapped on the upper floor of the burning building.
“These trapped occupants are alive because of your actions that day,” Lieutenant Michelle Kerr said.
What made Monday night’s ceremony all the more special was that the two people who were rescued that cold winter morning presented the firefighters with their plaques and medals.
Mayor Dan Champagne told fire fighters and medical responders that he could not be prouder of them, especially in light of the pandemic. He also highlighted new equipment the department has received and will receive in coming months.
“The support that we can give you is small when compared to what you give to the Town,” Mayor Champagne said.
Fire Chief Stephen Eppler praised department members for their service during an especially difficult year. Although the world was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Vernon residents continued to count on their fire department.
“During all of this our calls for service did not stop,” Chief Eppler said. “We adapted and learned how to be our best.” And while the pandemic is beginning to ebb, Chief Eppler urged firefighters not to let their guard down. “Protocols will remain in place to protect members, their families and our community.”
Town Administrator and Emergency and Risk Management Director Michael Purcaro told fire department members that the town is grateful to them for their service.
“We see and appreciate what you do for our community each day, and, equally as important, we recognize what you are willing to do each and every day.” Purcaro said.
Several other firefighters were honored for their efforts on December 20th at the Fitch Block. Captain Jon-Paul Lucas and Firefighters Zachary Lopez and Walter “Joe” Hampton were honored for their quick work controlling the fire; Firefighter James Barrows and Emergency Medical Responder Luis Muniz and Emergency Medical Technician Jared Galica were honored for deploying and raising ground ladders their colleagues used to reach the trapped people.
Captains Thomas McKinney, William Solito, Lieutenants Peter Blume, Bertrand Lessard and Michelle Kerr, Engineers Robert Turkington and Warren Boulette and Firefighter William Kerr were honored for their actions on April 25, 2020 while rescuing a man who was stranded 60 feet in the air in the bucket of his disabled work truck on Sutton Drive.
Lieutenants David Dube, Timothy Moore and Michelle Kerr were honored for their performance on November 10, 2020 rescuing a person on the sixth floor of 21 Court Street who’d suffered a heart attack. The building’s elevators were not functioning so the firefighters used a ladder truck to retrieve the person from the sixth floor and lower them to a waiting ambulance.
Adam Bowman, the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Fire Department, was honored as the Junior Firefighter of the Year for his hard work at school and in the fire department, and for his eagerness to learn and volunteer.
Captain Jon-Paul Lucas was selected as the Officer of the Year for his dedication to serving the Fire Department and community. He responded to 190 incidents and volunteered more than 500 hours in 2020.
“You consistently lead by example on scene and in the fire station,” Fire Chief Stephen Eppler said of Lucas.
Firefighter Matthew Kenzior has only been a member of the department since 2019, but in that time has distinguished himself and shown a deep commitment to professionalism, positivity and integrity, Assistant Chief Robert Babcock said. Kenzior has attended training and responded to calls to gain experience, Babcock said. In 2020 he responded to “an astounding 279 calls” and volunteered more than 350 hours.
“It’s truly been a pleasure to see Firefighter Kenzior grow within our organization and we hope to continue to see that for many years to come,” Babcock said.
Engineer Mitchell Dlubac and EMTs Octavio Muniz and Jonathan Towler were honored for live-saving efforts.
Captains Octavio Muniz and Cory Lafountaine and Lieutenant Bert Lessard were recognized for their selection as company officers.
The following volunteers were recognized for length of service:
45 Years
Firefighter Edgar Jackson
40 Years
EMT Laurie Galley, Engineer Scott McDonald, Captain Thomas McKinney and Fire Police Member Mark Pugliese.
25 Years
Captains Steven Landry, Octavio Muniz and William Solito.
20 Years
Lieutenant Steven Augustus, Engineer Jonathan Bush, Lieutenant Todd Cascario, Tami Hahn, Junior Advisor Linda Lukas and Engineer Donald Westcott.
15 Years
Assistant Chief Alan Arel.
10 Years Photographer Patrick Dooley, Engineer Walter Hampton, Firefighter Zachary Lopez and Ladies Auxiliary member Carol Muniz.
5 Years
Fire Police Lieutenants Todd Black and Pete Blume, EMT Heather Graveline, Engineer Andre Lisee, Firefighters Josh Lisk and Danielle Solito and Lieutenant Spencer Padget.