03/29/2024
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(View all photos taken by BladenOnline.com at the party here)

Appreciation for many things are acknowledged this time of year. The Bladen County Fire Association celebrated and gave kudos to our local heroes at their annual Christmas Party on Saturday at the White Lake FFA Camp.

Nathan Dowless, Fire Association President and Bradley Kinlaw, and Bladen County Emergency Management Director, David Howell, Bladen County Emergency Services Manager welcome everyone to the party. After the food came the festivities.

The guest speaker was the former Elizabethtown Fire Chief, Jamie Faulk.

Faulk spoke about the charity and volunteering happening between departments. He testified to witnessing acts of heroism and teamwork in the past two and half months during the flooding due to Hurricane Matthew and the fires in the western part of the state.

“We are neighbors helping neighbors. We are departments helping other departments. I saw everyone come together to help one another. Thank you,” Faulk said. 

Fire Association Representative and Firefighter, Jim Crayton, gave an update on the Bladen County Emergency Services Training Center, “Thanks to the folks at Carolina Crossroads we have a lot done at the training center.”

Crayton said the classroom building at the center only needs plumbing work done now and should be ready by the first of the year. He also thanked everyone in the room that had a part in updating the center.

President Dowless, Director Kinlaw and Director Howell gave letters of commendation to numerous Firefighters for going above and beyond in 2016.

The year’s award winners are as follows:

2016 Fire Chief to the Year: Dale Brennan

2016 Fire Firefighter of the Year: Chad Sholar

2016 Service Member of the Year: Randy Jones

2016 Volunteer EMS of the Year: Jerry Hill

2016 Paramedic of the Year: Heather Warwick

2016 EMT of the Year: Chris Ivey

2016 John Hall Award: James Greene

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