It was a record-breaking year for Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company in 2011, and members celebrated saving lives and property at their annual banquet Saturday night.
Kingsville volunteers responded to more calls in 2011 than ever: 2,345 – 1,105 fire calls and 1,245 EMS calls.
"It is only through support, dedication and the cooperation of our membership that Kingsville Volunteer fire company has been able to support the increase in our call volume and maintain our exceptional response rate," Michael Berna, fire captain 2011, wrote in the evening's program.
An example, he said, was during Hurricane Irene when 62 volunteers staffed the station and all the company's equipment. They slept on cots, furniture and any open floor space they could find despite not having electricity, water or heat at the station.
In his report, EMS 1st Lieutenant Timothy Berkeridge made sure to point out that the volunteers wouldn't be able to do what they do without the support of their families, whose husbands, wives, children, etc., are called out at all hours of the day and night to respond to an emergency.
Top honors for 2011 went to Firefighter of the Year Charles Tittle and EMS Responder of the Year Michael Podles.
Longtime volunteer Douglas Maynard, whose father was a founding member of the Kingsville company, was honored for his 50 years of service.
The top 10 firefighters for 2011 were Christopher Baier, 627 calls; Salvatore Rivieri II, 505; Shane Hubbe, 442; Michael Griffiths, 437; Jeffrey Weer, 430; Gary Weer, 418; Charles Tittle, 410; Justin Ricks, 336; John Cooke, 335; and Robert Chaney, 318.
The top 10 EMS volunteers for 2011 were Kellie Cooke, 537 calls; John Cooke, 407; Michael Podles, 376; Seth Torbit, 189; Christopher Myers, 120; Timothy Berkeridge, 97; Joshua Cooke, 90; Salvatore Rivieri II, 85; Michael Griffiths, 75; and Rachel Glasser, 68.
Earning service awards in 2011 were Douglas Maynard, 50 years; R. Wayne Knight and Ruth Vanik, 40 years; Brian Bower, Francis Ninos and Stephen Belkoff, 20 years; Alexander Scott, Christopher King and Joshua List, 15 years; Ashley Adams Aycock, Deborah Doge Hale, Jennifer VanGelder and Jennifer Willis, 10 years; and Courtney Berkeridge, Erin Berkeridge, Christopher Books, John Cooke, Jessica Galeano, Joseph Greely, Kevin Hubbe, Shane Hubbe, Salvatore Rivieri II, Nicholas Sayler, I. Elizabeth Stone, Kathleen Strickler and Thomas Yuhas, five years.
Administrative officers for 2012 are Mario Melfa, president; Seth Torbit, vice president; Rita Sayler, corresponding secretary; Scott Taylor, recording secretary; Victoria Clayton, treasurer; Raymond Corbin Jr., sergeant-at-arms; Ronald Cassett Sr., chaplain; and J. Kelly Berkeridge, Albert Dilworth, Edward Griffiths and Joshua List, board of directors.
Fire and rescue officers for 2012 are Michael Berna, chief; Jeffrey Weer, assistant chief; Donald Coster III, fire captain; Salvatore Rivieri II and Alexander Scott, fire lieutenants; Michael Griffiths, rescue captain; Shane Hubbe and Joseph Greely, rescue lieutenants; Gary Weer, engineer; and Albert Dilworth, Daniel Conte, Roger Wadkins and Justin Ricks, assistant engineers.
EMS officers for 2012 are John Cooke, EMS captain and Michael Podles and Shane Sierakowski, EMS lieutenants.
The top 10 fundraisers for 2011 were Rita Sayler, 327; Alexander Kelly, 154; Karen Sayler, 120; Salvatore Rivieri II, 105; Seth Torbit, 83; Charles Tittle, 79; Jonathan Uttenreither, 62; Ryan Ernst, 57; Andrew Hale, 56; and Cheryl Otradovec, 55.