Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - On October 17, 2008 the Yuma Fire Department held its Honors and Retirement Banquet at the Sonoran Pueblo on the Marine Corps Air Station. This annual event is held to honor those that have retired over the past year and those recognized by their peers for performance, service, and achievements.  

 

This year one retiree was honored.

 

-Engineer Scott Wootton retired in May with 20+ years of service.

 

Annual award recognitions:

 

-Linda Johnson was named “Support Person of the Year”. Linda Johnson, Senior Customer Service Specialist. Linda performs her duties with respect to the Department purchasing and accounting tasks in an exemplary manner. She has a strong work ethic and excels at serving our customers both internally and externally. She always has a pleasant attitude and is always cheerful.

 

-Kerry Leonard was named “9-1-1 Dispatcher of the Year”. Kerry continues to be an asset to the Communication Center. She is consistent and pleasant to work with and has also been successful in her role as a Training Communications Officer (TCO). One of the exceptionally difficult calls handled by Kerry this year included the training accident which involved injuries to a fellow dispatcher and Fire Department personnel; she handled it as a professional.

 

-Jordan Bowers was named “Firefighter of the Year”. In the face of extreme stress and confusion, Jordon performed his duties as a firefighter in exemplary fashion on the day of the Swift Water Rescue training accident. Being injured himself, Jordan put aside his own situation for the sake of others. He acted instinctively, and his actions were a credit to his department.

 

-Erik Lohman was named “Engineer of the Year”. Erik is a dependable co-worker that everyone can rely upon. He has taken on the project management responsibility for the Department’s ladder project. He assists with the maintenance of the Station and apparatus. Erik is an exceptional Engineer and is passing his knowledge along through the Engineer’s Academy as an instructor and an Engineer Practical Test Evaluator. Erik is confident in his abilities as an Engineer and Acting Captain. This was evident the day of the training accident. e sHe

fjadskfj;alsdjfalkejfaldkjfajfakdhfakhfHe   He stepped up in a time of extreme stress and difficult circumstance to lead the team in the rescue. Erik has been a sound leader since then by stepping up to the plate as an acting captain and continuing the hard work ethic of the Station One crew.

 

 

 

-Eugene Tutell was named “Captain of the Year”. Gene can see the humor in a call yet still take it seriously and get the job done with professionalism. He has ensured the operational readiness of his crew. Gene works tirelessly for his crew and the Fire Department. His crew can be depended upon at any moment – which was no more evident than the day he suffered his injuries.

 

Additional award recognitions:

 

Debra Erfert received the “E.F. Sanguinetti Award” which recognizes a citizen providing service to YFD. Debra volunteered to create coloring/activity books that teach our youngest citizens the value of fire and life safety. The coloring book series which she created contain beautifully drawn individual portraits of each of our six Fire Stations on the covers. These coloring books are an effective teaching tool, and the Yuma Fire Department was able to save significant funds by printing the coloring books rather than buying generic books through commercial publishers. Debra’s commitment and artistic talent are being used to create a better and safer Yuma. This award is named for E.F. Sanguinetti who established Yuma’s first Fire Department in 1899.

 

Mayor Larry Nelson and Council members Ema Lee Shoop, Paul Johnson, Leslie McClendon, and Cody Beeson were on hand to help present the awards. In addition, E.F. Sanguinetti’s grandson Bruce Gwynn and his wife Debbie assisted in presenting the E.F. Sanguinetti award.