Cherokee County
Fire & Emergency Services
Fire & Emergency Services
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) held an awards ceremony on Tuesday night at the Cherokee County Fire Training Complex, recognizing the exceptional bravery and dedication of twenty-seven firefighters. This event was part of CCFES's Awards & Recognition program, established last year to honor outstanding service within the department.
The awards bestowed upon these individuals were the result of their responses to six separate incidents over the past several years. Among the accolades were Firefighter Lifesaver Awards, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Lifesaver Awards, and Unit Citations.
The ceremony began with the presentation of EMS Lifesaver Awards to Miguel Castro, Logan Hart, Garrett Townsend, Joey VanBeers, and Jason Williams. These firefighters were lauded for their exceptional patient care, which resulted in saving the life of a patient in cardiac arrest in 2022. Through their swift actions, the patient received necessary treatment, was transported to a hospital, and made a remarkable recovery.
Further recognition was extended to Gerald Wright, Brad Gravitt, Dean Hege, and Alec Adams, who also received EMS Lifesaver Awards for their outstanding efforts in saving another patient's life, ensuring their safe transport to a hospital and subsequent recovery.
Unit Citations were then presented to Justin Libby, Devin Cleveland, and Alex Henderson. These members were honored for their swift response to a drowning incident, where they demonstrated exceptional courage and resourcefulness in locating and removing a victim from the lake, giving the patient the best chance for survival.
Additionally, David Miller, Cidnee Jones, Cameron Hubbard, Dave Burnaugh, Todd Mullins, Joseph Little, and Brandon Barton received Unit Citations for their decisive actions in treating a pediatric patient with a traumatic and life-threatening injury, ultimately saving the child's life.
Another Unit Citation was awarded to Chase Scoggins, Chris King, Brady Reed, Eli Muse, Kevin Fox, and Jeffery Garrett for their response in handling an ammonia leak, preventing serious harm to multiple individuals through their quick thinking and effective response.
The final award presented was the Firefighter Lifesaver Award. This award was presented to Andy Kane and Kyle Hicks, who demonstrated exceptional bravery in rescuing a victim from a burning home. Thanks to their swift and decisive actions, the patient was safely rescued, treated, and later discharged from the hospital.
The exemplary performance of these dedicated firefighters embodies the highest ideals of the American fire service and reflects positively on themselves and Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. Their heroic actions underscore their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Cherokee County.
After the awards were presented, Fire Chief Eddie Robinson called on Fire Chaplain Dana McPherson to provide a prayer for Sergeant Chris King who's been battling cancer. Firefighters surrounded Sgt. King and bowed their heads to pray, asking for healing.
We are immensely proud to have such outstanding individuals within our ranks, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude for their selfless service to CCFES and the community.
