Cherry Point Fire, Emergency Services earns excellence award

Photo By Sgt. Grace L. Waladkewics | Cherry Point’s Fire and Emergency Services Department was named the Marine Corps Small Fire Department of the Year for their services in 2013. The department responded to a total of 1,953 calls and trained for a total of 13,527 during the 2013 year alone.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

10.15.2014

Story by Cpl. Grace L. Waladkewics 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Services Department was awarded the Marine Corps Small Fire Department of the Year Award during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Oct. 15.

“This is not the first time Cherry Point has won this award,” said Chief Rodney Wade, fire chief for the department. “Our personnel put out 100 percent in everything they do every day and there is no doubt that they deserve this award.”

According to Wade, the department mainly performs structural and aircraft firefighting. Additionally, they perform hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction response; confined space and trench rescue; water rescue; open water spill response; high angle rescue; vehicle extraction; disaster preparedness and risk assessment.

“Our team has responded to 1,953 calls and trained for a total of 13,527 hours during the 2013 year alone,” said Wade. “We are certified safety seat installers and have maintained an above average aggregate response time of 4 minutes, 14 seconds to all emergencies.”

The air station was judged on five different categories. Each category, including customer service; department-level awards, accreditation and certificates; innovativeness; quality of life initiatives, and firefighter health and safety are all crucial to the continued safety of the community.

“This award reflects the dedication our fire department and emergency services provide to our Marines and our Marine Corps community,” said Col. Chris Pappas III, commanding officer of the air station. “The team of personnel here has earned this award for the work they put in 24/7, 365-days a year implementing programs and procedures and demonstrating professionalism.”

According to Pappas, Cherry Point’s fire and emergency services department sets the standard of excellence for all other installations through their accreditation and exceeding standards daily.

“The hard work that this team has done and continue to do, has earned the trust of the community,” said Pappas, speaking to the awardees. “Trust is intangible, but having trust enables us to operate both more aggressively and rapidly than any of our adversaries. That trust is built on having a safety net of folks like yourselves so the community knows if they call, you will respond.”

• Date Taken: 10.15.2014
• Date Posted: 10.20.2014 09:52
• Story ID: 145467
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US