 Chief John Ingrao (left) and Dana Waldron
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) celebrated another year of
service at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 27, at The Resort at The
Mountain. The yearly event offers a chance for the district to present awards
and enjoy dinner, live music by Bob Voll and the Too Loose Band and an evening
of entertainment for all the district’s members, including volunteers, the
board of directors, support groups, lifetime members, retirees and the paid
staff.
HFD Chief John Ingrao noted the event ties together the
members of the district that don’t often get the chance to mingle.
“I think (it's special) because we have so many different
skill sets and areas of responsibility, and we work in conjunction but not all
together,” Ingrao said. “We’re thanking each other and having a celebration.”
The Fire Fighter of the Year award went to Dana Waldron, who
has volunteered with the district for two years. Ingrao noted that Waldron’s
selection was unanimous, including all paid staff and duty officers, and that
he is exceedingly skilled and always wants to be helping.
“He’s just consistently striving to do better and because of
that it brings everybody else up with him,” Ingrao said. “He just exemplifies
that volunteer spirit.”
Waldron noted that he joined the district after a loss in
his family and that winning the award is “humbling.”
“I don’t see myself as doing that much more than anybody
else,” Waldron said. “I love my Hoodland Fire District and I hope I can serve
it for a long time to come.”
Matt Garcia earned the Rookie of the Year award, while
Melinda Caldwell took home the EMS Responder of the Year award and Tom Nelson
won the Support Volunteer of the Year. Years in Service Awards winners included
Cody Anderson (five years); Evan Jarvis, Joe Schwab and Eric Macy (ten years
each); and Linn and Carol Norgard (35 years each).
New awards were also given out this year, including Above
and Beyond awards, for both combat personnel and support staff, and the Chief’s
Award, for the person who transcends all the other awards and is there every
possible moment when needed. Kevin Frank won the Above and Beyond (Combat)
award, Sally Chester and Debra Sinz took home the Above and Beyond (Support)
award and James Jarvis received the Chief’s Award.
“We weren’t capturing all of the extra work and effort that
people have done,” Ingrao said. “There's so many doing so much stuff, we kind
of forget about it. They’re going above and beyond.”
The district also honored the Support Group/CERT and the
Lions Club with Nominated Awards for their work on the Great American Eclipse
last year. Lieutenant/EMT-1 Phil Burks noted the eclipse was unprecedented and
the time and effort put in for it was over multiple days. The two groups helped
to serve more than 650 meals to members of various public safety organizations
during all hours of the day and night during the event.
“We called on the district to do a lot and the district
answered in all ways very well, and exceeded the expectations of everyone,”
Burks said. By Garth Guibord/MT
| 
