Cherokee County
Fire & Emergency Services
Fire & Emergency Services
WOODSTOCK, GA – On Thursday morning, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) proudly recognized 23 distinguished fire service members at the Breakfast with Our Best event, hosted by the Cherokee County Fire Foundation (CCFF). The event, held at First Baptist Church Woodstock, celebrated the hard work and dedication of the department's personnel and highlighted their exceptional contributions to the community.
The event kicked off with an introduction by CCFF President, Jey Willis, who thanked everyone for attending and supporting the foundation's efforts. Bryan Thomas, a board member of the foundation, took the stage next to acknowledge the various sponsors whose generous contributions made the event possible. Katie Pearson, representing Northside Hospital Cherokee, followed with the keynote sponsor address.
Deputy Chief Kevin Lanier recognized members of the department’s Awards and Recognition Board, setting the stage for Battalion Chief Matt Richter to speak about the extraordinary accomplishments of the honorees.
Fire Chief Eddie Robinson presented the prestigious 2024 Of the Year awards to the following individuals:
Following the presentation of these awards, a Unit Citation was presented to members of Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services and Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services for their heroic actions during a life-threatening trench rescue. The teams responded to a male victim trapped in a trench, buried up to his head in dirt. With the situation rapidly deteriorating, Engine 23 made a calculated decision to dig carefully around the patient, allowing him to breathe. As the dirt compressed, the crew immediately began lifesaving EMS treatment while preparing for a potential secondary collapse. The collaboration of both fire departments, including Cobb County's Technical Rescue Team, was crucial to the successful and timely rescue. The patient survived thanks to the swift and skilled efforts of the responders.
Members of both fire departments receiving the Unit Citation include:
In addition, Lt. Dennis Hall, Jr. and Sgt. Cody Caviness were honored with the Firefighter Lifesaver Award for their exceptional actions during this incident.
The event highlighted the extraordinary courage, teamwork, and dedication of CCFES personnel, underscoring their commitment to serving the community in times of need.
For more information about the Cherokee County Fire Foundation and its support of CCFES, please visit cherokeefirefoundation.org.