Heidi Wheeler | Courtesy Photo
IVFD firefighters who logged the most responses to fire calls in 2021 were, from left, Mike Rowley, Doug Mitchell, Aaron Green, Dustin Harris, Wade Courter, Kelsey Weiss, Duane Todd, Doug Wright and Brad Wheeler. Not pictured—Sergio Almanza Jr. and Nick Schultz.
Heidi Wheeler | Courtesy Photo
The Francis Nichols Memorial training and attendance award winners were, from left, Aaron Green, Dustin Harris, Kelsey Weiss, Duane Todd and Earl Loop. Harris also received Lineman of the Year; Weiss, Officer of the Year; and Green, Firefighter of the Year. Not pictured—Brad Dillan, Driver of the Year.
Heidi Wheeler | Courtesy Photo
Among the IVFD members recognized for years of service were, from left, Mike Rowley, 10 years; Doug Mitchell, 25; and Brad Wheeler, 35. Not pictured—Josh Moreno and Jake Burke
Service, hours recognized by fire department
As winds blew outdoors and National Weather Service red flag warnings continued, members of the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department gathered Saturday for their annual awards night.
Several IVFD firefighters had just been to the 30,000 acre fire that week to assist as part of the Southwest Mutual Aid strike team.
Hours like those spent at the Furnas/Gosper County wildfire and another one north of Sutherland are among the reports given at the IVFD’s program held at the fire hall each year.
While last week’s hours on the mutual aid calls will go on next year’s report, Fire Chief Doug Mitchell noted the IVFD racked up 1,787 hours in 2021 responding to 70 calls in the city of Imperial, rural areas of the district and in mutual aid calls.
The most hours, 1,259, were spent on 41 rural calls last year, while 343 were in mutual aid response eight times. Another 185 hours were logged by the IVFD responding to 21 calls in the city limits.
The department’s top awards went to Aaron Green, Firefighter of the Year; Kelsey Weiss, Officer of the Year; Dustin Harris, Lineman of the Year; and Brad Dillan, Driver of the Year.
Wade Courter again led the department in the Top Responders award group. Others included Mike Rowley, Doug Mitchell, Duane Todd, Doug Wright, Sergio Almanza Jr., Dustin Harris, Brad Wheeler, Aaron Green, Nick Schultz and Kelsey Weiss.
There was a four-way tie this year for the Francis Nichols Memorial Attendance Award between Earl Loop, Duane Todd, Dustin Harris and Aaron Green.
Kelsey Weiss received the Francis Nichols Memorial Training Award.
The IVFD recognizes its firefighters who reach years of service in five-year increments.
Brad Wheeler was awarded for 35 years of service. Others were Doug Mitchell, 25; Josh Moreno and Mike Rowley, 10; and Jake Burke, 5 years.
IVFD line officers for 2021 included Doug Mitchell, chief; Brad Wheeler, 1st asst. chief; Kelsey Weiss, 2nd asst. chief; Daryl Sharp, 1st lieutenant; and Rick Elliott, 2nd lieutenant.
Brad Dillan joined the officer team this year as 2nd lieutenant, while Elliott moved up to 1st lieutenant. The rest of the 2021 officers continue in their positions.
Business officers this year are Aaron Green, president; Douglas Wright, vice president; Jake Burke, treasurer, Dustin Harris, secretary; and Lynne West and Johnathan Klentz, co-sargent-at-arms.