Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the recipients of the 2022 Governor’s Fire Service Awards. Established in 2002, the Governor’s Fire Service Awards honor excellence in Virginia’s fire service and are facilitated by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs in collaboration with the Virginia Fire Services Board.
2022 Governor’s Fire Service Awards Recipients
EXCELLENCE IN VIRGINIA FIRE SERVICES
Ryan McGill, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue (King George resident)
Firefighter McGill has been at the forefront of making changes to better not only the firefighters in Fairfax, but across the Commonwealth and the rest of the country. He has worked on legislation to further protect firefighters from the effects of cancer, utilizing scientific research that concluded the by-products of engineered wood (oriented strand board) are extremely carcinogenic and were causing firefighters to be diagnosed with cancer. He has also worked closely with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the International Association of Fire Fighters to raise awareness and educate firefighters on best practices when it comes to limiting exposure to carcinogenic materials.
PRIVATE SECTOR EXCELLENCE IN VIRGINIA FIRE SERVICE SUPPORT
Steve Weissman, Firefighter Cancer Support Network (Stafford resident)
Steve Weissman is Virginia State Director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) and has worked tirelessly to ensure that firefighters are educated about the dangers of the occupation related to exposure to carcinogens. Steve has spent innumerable hours educating firefighters across the state on the mitigation strategies and tactics that they can employ to reduce their exposures and their chance of getting cancer. Steve makes sure each Firefighter who is battling cancer is provided with a FCSN toolbox which includes the FCSN signature “Firefighters Guide to Cancer Survivorship.” This manual is full of information on questions to ask your doctor, cancer presumption laws, caregiver information, how to talk to your family and friends about your diagnosis and much more. Equally important though, Steve ensures each firefighter is provided with a mentor (Badge-to-Badge Support). Mentors help guide and provide support to a firefighter who is battling the same type of cancer the mentor battled and beat. Steve himself is a cancer survivor and mentor who has mentored many firefighters providing them brotherhood, comfort, and reassurance as they fight the battle of their life. Finally, Steve has been a key figure in the FCSN establishing a relationship with the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center to develop an app and conduct a survey of Virginia Firefighters so that they can better understand the dangers Virginia firefighters specifically face related to their cancer risks.
OUTSTANDING FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE
Prince William County Department of Fire Rescue, Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department, Occoquan Woodbridge Lorton Volunteer Fire Department
During the winter weather event in January 2022, the Prince William County Fire Rescue System, consisting of the Department of Fire Rescue, the Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department, and the Occoquan-Lorton-Woodbridge VFD responded to Interstate 95 and established an ad-hoc rescue and public service effort to handle the stranded motorists, some of whom had been stranded for over 18 hours. Establishing incident command, the combined efforts of the members of the Prince William County Fire Rescue System provided food, water, and medical attention to the citizens. Using station assets, they cleared exit ramps from the highway to allow motorists to exit the Interstate. Compiling supplies from station stocks, they distributed support in food, and water, and when the system’s logistics section responded, added blankets and other aid. Through the incident command process, they dispatched assets from their task force to respond to and treat several medical emergencies. In the finest tradition of the Fire Rescue and EMS service, they answered the call without hesitation.
