Deadline extended for nominations to Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards
The deadline for nominations has been extended to Jan. 7 as the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Division of EMS is continuing to accept nominations for the annual Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards ceremony.
The expanded event will honor recipients April 24, 2024, at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in downtown Columbus. Nominations of deserving candidates can be made at com.ohio.gov/HOFNom.
“This award ceremony provides an opportunity for more firefighters to be honored for the sacrifices made every day by their brethren, on behalf of communities across Ohio and they deserve it,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon.
Anyone can nominate deserving candidates in the follow categories:
• Ohio Fire Department of the Year Award: This award honors an Ohio Fire Department that has demonstrated outstanding teaching characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made a major impact in fire education in its community and department.
• Ohio Fire Service Instructor of the Year Award: This award honors an Ohio Fire Service Instructor who has demonstrated outstanding teaching characteristics and because of these attributes has made major impact in fire education at their local fire department and fire charter.
• Ohio Fire Officer of the Year Award: This award honors an Ohio Fire Officer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made major impact on the fire service at the local and regional level.
• Ohio Fire Prevention Educator of the Year Award: This award honors an Ohio Fire Prevention Educator who has demonstrated innovative and outstanding teaching characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made a major impact on the field of fire prevention education in his or her community.
• Ohio Fire Educator Lifetime Achievement Award: This award honors an Ohio Fire Educator who has demonstrated innovative and outstanding teaching characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made major contributions to the field of fire services at the local, regional or national level.
Nominations for the following three awards can only be submitted by active or retired fire service members, city or county officials, or Ohio's fire-related associations, organizations or industries in Ohio:
• Ohio Fire Service Citizen’s Award: This award is conferred annually to members of the public who, at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme fire or other emergency rescue situation.
• Ohio Fire Service Valor Award: This award is conferred annually to members of the fire service (active member of a career or volunteer fire service) who at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme emergency situation, whether serving in their official capacity as a firefighter or not, above and beyond the normal line of duty.
• Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award: This award is conferred on outstanding individuals whose contributions to and leadership of the fire service within the state of Ohio have been a milestone in the development of those services; whose actions have served not just their community but have contributed significantly to the fire service on a regional, statewide and/or national basis; and, whose leadership and accomplishments in these areas are widely recognized and respected in the Ohio fire service.
“I want to thank all of Ohio’s fire service for their dedication and commitment and I look forward to celebrating their successes at the 2024 Hall of Fame Ceremony,” Reardon said.
There are approximately 50,000 dedicated men and women who serve in Ohio’s fire service. The awards ceremony recognized the bravery, commitment and sacrifice those men and women make on behalf of their communities, as well as members of the public who, at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme fire or other emergency rescue situation.