Meeker Fire and Rescue presents annual awards

MEEKER I Meeker Fire and Rescue held its annual banquet Friday at the Fairfield Community Center. Awards that were presented included:
• Employer of the Year: Meeker Collision Center. Wade Bradfield has two employees who are firemen and who he lets respond to the majority of fire and EMS calls that occurred during work hours this past year. This is so important to acknowledge, because without employers like Wade, we would not have a volunteer fire and EMS crew. The district is so grateful to those employers who permit employees who are firemen and EMTs to respond to fire and EMS calls, in spite of the fact this can place a burden on their business.
• Good Neighbor Award: This is the first year we have given these awards. They were awarded to Shell and ExxonMobil for the interest they have taken in promoting EMS and fire services in the Piceance Basin. Shell offered an EMT class, and because of this we currently have three Shell employees who are trained EMTs and are available to respond to an incident in the area and start treatment prior to the arrival of the ambulance from Meeker.
ExxonMobil sponsored a basic/advanced disaster life-support class, which was attended by firemen and EMTs from Meeker as well as surrounding communities.
• Oldest and youngest members: Dick Merriam was a fireman for 17 years, retiring in 1975. Grant Stewart joined the department in 2009.
• Longest-serving active member: Bob Ruckman has been on the department for 35 years, starting as a fireman and still active as an EMT. We don’t know what we would do without him.
• Our doctors: A lot of people don’t know that EMTs in Colorado practice under a physician’s license. Without the doctors, we could not respond as EMTs. We are grateful to Dr. Kellie Turner, our current medical director, and to Dr. Albert Krueger. They are always encouraging us, willing to teach us, and are there for us.
• We are proud of our members and proud of what they do for this community. They spend many hours of training to prepare for an event which may or may not occur. But they always want to be ready, just in case. And we are always looking for new members.
— Kris Borchard, director
Meeker Emergency Medical Services