A handful of West Manatee Fire Rescue district staff were named the best throughout Manatee County.
Four WMFR staff members are set to receive recognition March 21, during the Manatee County Fire Chiefs Association’s annual awards ceremony.
Fire marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski issued a news release March 7 to announce the awards, which include:
- Chief Officer of the Year: Training Chief Mark Tuttle;
- Fire Officer of the Year: Lt. Cameron Frazier;
- Firefighter of the Year: David Miller;
- Inspector of the Year: Nick Riffe.
Additionally, some WMFR staff will be honored for their efforts during Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
Honorees include WMFR Chief Ben Rigney, Battalion Chief Tyler MacDonald, Lt. Andrew Lauricella, firefighter William Bowen, firefighter/paramedic William Thomas and firefighter/paramedic Jerrod Apple.
“The hard work WMFR staff are putting in is being recognized throughout Manatee County,” Kwiatkowski wrote in a March 7 email to The Islander.
The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 21, at the East Manatee Fire Rescue District Station 1, 3200 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton.