On Saturday evening, the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department (BTVFD) held its 40th Annual Awards Banquet at the Interstate Parkway Fire Hall with over 60 members and invited guests in attendance.
The event also recognized and celebrated the department’s 66th year of service to the residences and businesses of Bradford Township.
Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dan Burkhouse and President Mike Maze presented Years of Service awards to the following members: Mike Maze – 5 years; Cole Grandinetti and Justin Reams – 10 years; Andy Eliason, Larry Smith and Bill Webster – 15 years; Tim Burkhouse – 20 years. Burkhouse also received the Distinguished Lifetime Member Award for his 20 years of active service. Jay Bradish received a Distinguished Lifetime Service Award for 37 years of active service.
Matt Mongillo received the “Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” award.
Assistant Chiefs Bob Eliason and Burkhouse presented the 2021 Training Awards to the following firefighters: Tyler Blair, Jay Bradish, Dan Burkhouse, Tim Burkhouse, Nick Colley, Andy Eliason, Bob Eliason, Shawn Galbraith, Dillion Goodreau, Jim Maze, Mike Maze, Chad Miller, Matt Mongillo, Chad Niver, Justin Reams and Randy Wolfgang.
Jim Long received an award for his lifetime dedication and service to the fire department and community for 47 years of service.
Over the past year, the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department’s in-house training totaled approximately 2,500-man hours on topics such as engine pumping, vehicle rescue, SCBA practice, building pre-planning, CPR/AED and first aid, driver training, hose line movement, RIT, ropes and knots, utility emergencies and wildfires.
During the same time period most of those same members furthered their dedication to the BTVFD and their community by participating in advanced or certified training. The advanced training totaled approximately 1,010-man hours.
Each year there are a few training topics that the department strives extra hard to have all their members update and stay current with: This year’s training focuses were on hazmat operations, emergency vehicle driver training, first aid CPR/AED and breathing apparatus or SCBA training. Chief Eliason thanked every fireman for “taking time out of their busy schedules to train and to equip themselves with knowledge that most importantly will make them a safe fireman and will also help to safely serve this department and the communities we protect.”
Each firefighter received a glove strap and a gasoline gift card. Additionally, fire police members Jim Long, Harry Lamielle, Randy Grandinetti and Dick Williams also received a gasoline card. The gifted gasoline cards were donated by a local Bradford business.
The guest speaker for the event was Jerry Ozog, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute.
Ozog was a former member of the department for 15 years and the paramedic coordinator at Bradford Hospital before leaving the area. Ozog’s topic for the event was “The Future of the Fire Service” which included topics of recruitment, retention and mentoring within the volunteer fire department. The dinner was catered by Kennedy Street Café.
