MCRD Parris Island, S.C. -- The Parris Island Fire Rescue Division was recently named Department of Defense Fire Department of the Year (Small Department) at the Department of Defense Awards Banquet in Atlanta, Aug. 24.
The awards program is designed to distinguish the best the DoD has to offer, according to guidelines published in the award criteria. The categories range from recognizing entire divisions in the Large Department, Small Department and Fire Prevention Program categories to recognizing individual effort in the Fire Academy Instructor, Military Firefighter, Civilian Firefighter, Military Fire Officer, Civilian Fire Officer and Firefighter Heroism Award categories.
The Parris Island department, which also won the Marine Corps Fire Department of the Year award earlier this year, was the only Marine Corps department to win in any of the DoD categories this year, according to Fire Chief Kelvin D. Canaday, the head of the Depot's fire department.
During 2006, the department responded to 1,172 emergencies, with $100 million at risk. However, due to the fire station's quick and accurate responses, the Depot sustained no monetary loss caused by fires. The firefighters also entertained more than 2,500 school-aged children in Beaufort with fire safety puppet shows, as well as traveled to Long Beach, Miss., to provide a fire safety fair to residents affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In addition, the department received the Congressional Fire Service Award for its various public fire safety educational programs. Depot firefighters were also repeatedly honored by local communities for charity work and contributions.
However, Canaday said the accomplishments that made his fire station stand out the most were its advanced medical assistance programs and success rates.
"Our biggest thing here is our emergency medical program," he said. "We have been doing it longer than any other Marine Corps fire station. We have had EMS for 14 years, and have also had a program in place to get our guys EMS trained."
While a fire department is usually the first on the scene of an accident or medical emergency, Canaday, who was also a nominee for the Civilian Fire Officer of the Year category, said many first responders provide only basic treatment and have to wait for an ambulance to arrive before a victim can be further treated or transported. With EMS-trained firefighters, the fire department can deploy at least one paramedic and fire engine to each call.
"It just makes good sense for the people who are there first to provide the higher level of care,"he added.
During 2006, the department saved ten lives, including a recruit who had stopped breathing for five minutes. The firefighters were also credited with successfully resuscitating three people in cardiac arrest.
If that weren't enough, the department is the only emergency services department in the region that provides firefighting services, advanced life support emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, both surface and dive water rescue and confined space rescue. To decrease risk to recruits in medical emergencies, the department also implemented a drill instructor medical training program.
With all the success the station has had throughout the year, Canaday gave all the credit to the men and women working for him.
"It makes me ever so proud of them,"Canaday said. "They did all the work. This award was for them."
The award has boosted morale in the station, said David Michaelsen, who has been with the Parris Island department for four years.
"We are a hard-working department,"he explained. "Having this award shows we are a close-knit family, and the management is behind us. It is really an honor to receive this for the work we do."
Canaday said the department will soon be preparing for next year's awards banquet, and he hopes to have the station nominated in other categories, including the Fire Prevention Program and Civilian Firefighter categories.