The Westminster Fire Department recognized the dedicated volunteers and career members for their service to the community in 2021 during their monthly company meeting on Wednesday May 4, 2022. The Annual Awards Banquet which is normally held in January was canceled due to COVID 19.

A Unit Citation is presented to members of the department that, as a crew or group, participated in an action that contributed to the overall professional mitigation of an emergency situation.

In February, Medic 39 was dispatched for a seizure and while en route, the call was upgraded to an unconscious person. The medic unit provided lifesaving interventions and before arriving at the hospital, the patient had been successfully resuscitated. A few weeks later the patient stopped by the station to thank those that saved the patient’s life. The following were recognized with a unit citation:

FF/Paramedic Seth Robinson                               FF/EMT Michael Karolenko

Engineer Vishal Agrawal                                       Lieutenant Mikel C Hess

FF/EMT Michael Erdman                                       FF/Paramedic Briana Stull

In December, Medic  37 was dispatched for a subject with trouble breathing. When Medic 37 arrived they found the patient in cardiac arrest. The medic unit provided life saving interventions. Medic 128 from Sykesville was clearing CHC and responded to assist Medic 37 along with Engine 31 . Without the fast and effective CPR from Medic 37 and the assistance from Medic 128, this could have had a much different outcome. The following were recognized with a unit citation:

FF/EMT Matthew Hafler                                         Engineer Lee Bowers

FF/Paramedic Cassie Houpt                                  Lieutenant Mikel Hess

On Medic 128

FF/EMT Bobby Moser                                             FF/Paramedic Madeline Plaut

In December, units were dispatched for a reported vehicle collision with entrapment. On arrival, one subject was found trapped inside of the vehicle after striking a tree. The engine crew was able to pry open the driver’s door and  worked diligently to remove the driver’s door. With the assistance of Rescue Squad 6 from Pleasant Valley, the driver’s door was removed allowing access to the patient. The patient was then flown by helicopter to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. Due to the unique position of the vehicle and the patient being trapped, units had to be very cautious how they operated around the scene. The following were recognized with a unit citation: 

Lt Michael Hess                                                       EVOD Kyle Stull                                  

FF Bryan Deckleman                                              FF Dennis Mann

Captain Chad Petry                                                 Chief Jeff Leppert

Assistant Chief Marques Price

From Pleasant Valley

Chief Forrest Shaw                                                  Grant Shaw

Wayne Short                                                             Chris Staley

Matt Condon                                                             Michael Swartzbaugh

In October, Westminster Fire Department was alerted for Vehicle Collision with Rescue. Engine 31, Duty 3, Medic 38 and Medic 37 responded along with Rescue Squad 9 from Reese. While enroute units were advised that there was possibly a vehicle over an embankment. Units arrived to find a vehicle suspended approx. 15-20’ off the ground. The vehicle was being held up by a small branch under the front bumper and the rear wheels which were at the edge of the retaining wall. Crews observed the operator to still be in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Captain Petry requested additional resources as the crews started securing the vehicle. Additional resources arrived and crews spent approximately an hour monitoring the vehicle’s stability and re-assuring the driver of efforts being made to remove them. The driver of the vehicle was removed uninjured. The following were recognized with a unit citation:

Captain Chad Petry                                                 Lt Dave Stull

Engineer Thomas Ray                                            Lt Bill Brehm

FF/Paramedic Casey Smith                                   FF/EMT Matt Vosburgh

FF/Paramedic Steve Caho                                     FF/EMT Hank Swann

Presidents Award – This award is presented to a member who shows outstanding service to the Department by taking on and completing a large and complicated task or project that improves the level of service the Department is able to provide to the community or positively affects the quality of life for other members of the Department.

The Westminster Fire Department decided after many years to bring back Friday night Bingo. The following are the members of the Bingo Committee who have put in several hours to make weekly Bingo a successful fundraiser for the department:

Timothy Bangerd                                                     James Bangerd, III

Mike Garber                                                              Amy Garber

Kenny Carlisle                                                          Robin Stansbury

Bill Brehm                                                                  Richard Koons

Firefighter of the Year – This award shall be presented to a member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the organization through a variety of activities and has demonstrated the pride, dedication, and commitment that every department looks for in a member.

Firefighter of the Year – Chris Petry.

I would respectfully nominate Chris Petry for Firefighter of the year for the year of 2021. Chris has stepped up in many aspects of the department by constantly being seen in the firehouse assisting with house chores, cleaning, checking apparatus, and preparing himself for the next call for service. Chris attended over 430 hours of training for the year and obtained numerous certifications for both fire and EMS. He has obtained approximately 700 hours of LOSAP for the year and responded to over 500 calls making him one of the top responders for 2021. Chris’s attitude is always positive, his willingness to learn and enhance his skills, expand his knowledge, and his dedication to the department does not go unnoticed. He is a role model for newer firefighters coming into the department, maintains a positive attitude and has achieved the position of Sergeant in a very short time.

The following members were recognized as the Top 10 Responders for 2021:

10 – Lieutenant Corey Milewski                                         9 – Deputy Chief Josh Evans

8 – EMS Captain Gunnar Mohlhenrich                             7 – Assistant Chief Marques Price

6 – FF Dani Wolf                                                                   5 – FF Bill Brehm

4 – Chief Jeff Leppert                                                           3 – Captain Chad Petry

2 – FF Bryan Deckelman                                                     1 – Sergeant Chris Petry