AVFD names fireman of year

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department honored member Casey Kimbrough with the 2019 Firefighter of the Year merit award at the annual Christmas party and meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.

According to chief Kyle Tischler, the members of the fire department nominate the individual for this award whom they believe has best met the five following qualifications:

The firefighter must not be on probation.

The firefighter must have shown to be highly active in the department through meetings and fire/emergency calls.

The firefighter must have shown dedication to his/her duty as an Albany firefighter and demonstrate professionalism.

The firefighter must be knowledgeable in the fields of firefighting and safety.

The nominee should be known as one who “goes the extra mile” and is considered dependable.

Tischler said that firefighter Kimbrough has been with the department two and a half years. 

“It’s not often that we find a young person that gives as much time, sweat, and blood as Casey,” said chief Tischler. “He has been to virtually every training opportunity offered to him since he’s joined, and he has taken off work many times to attend various fire service training events and emergency calls.”

The fire chief said he really appreciates the effort put forth by Kimbrough. 

“I’m glad to have him on our team,” said Tischler. “Casey is a young fellow, and the future of our department lies in the hands of these young ones.” 

In addition to the award ceremony, the annual Christmas party provides a chance for firefighters and their families to celebrate the holiday season together. 

“Our fire department is a family environment,” said the chief. “We encourage our members to bring their families to the station at any time and spend some quality time together at the fire station.”