Emergency Services District No. 1: Firefighters celebrated, acknowledged at banquet

Editor's note: In Paragraph 3 we corrected the Springtown station number, which was in error in the original story.

The front of the Parker County Emergency Services District 1 awards banquet Feb. 28 at Springhill Suites/Willow Park Event Center featured music, inspirational speakers, and recognition of the district’s finest first responders, while the back of the room was filled with other kinds of special guests.

Clustered around five tables near the exit, 25 firefighters in uniform with radios on their hips were on-duty and ready to answer an emergency call from their respective departments.

Springtown Station 48 Capt. Jordan Sereika knows well what it is like to leave food on the table and dash to an emergency.

“Somebody has to be on duty. That is just the reality of it,” Sereika said. “When you get a call, you go.”

Lt. Frank Watson of Peaster Station 46 explained the practice of firefighters from outside one’s area graciously staffing the stations so attendees can confidently attend the banquet. There is one perk for being among the attendees on duty. Everyone knows the on-duty guests go through the food line first.

Parker County Emergency Services District No. 1 serves Aledo, Annettas, Silver Creek, Springtown, Poolville, La Junta, Morningstar, Peaster, and Willow Park.

Slideshow

Brotherhood Excellence Service Teamwork Award recipient Lt. Rob Stone

Officer of the Year Lt. Dusty Hallman

Engineer of the Year Mike Kelly

Reserve Firefighter of the Year Brandon Harer

Lieutenant Jared Junker, center, received the Board of Commissioner's Award. With Junker are commissioners Mark Jack, Saxon Bailey, Shawn Scott, Brandon Tatarevich, and Asst. Chief David Pruitt, Ben Overholt, Dpt. Chief Jason Ingram, and Chief Stephen Watson.

Uniformed firefighters ate at the back of the banquet, ready to dash if an emergency call was received.

ESD 1 Chief Stephen Watson emceed the event and received a standing ovation at the opening of the firefighters’ annual awards banquet.

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Recognizing the ESD’s finest

ESD 1 Chief Stephen Watson emceed the event and humbly acknowledged a standing ovation at the opening ceremony.  Keynote speaker Capt. Trevor Stokes of Travis County ESD 2 in Pflugerville delivered an inspirational, encouraging address. Board of Commissioners president Mark Jack also thanked and addressed the firefighters.

Lieutenant Jared Junker received the Board of Commissioner’s Award.

Reserve Firefighter of the Year was Brandon Harer chosen among fellow nominees Ruben Gomez, Kevin Bradley, Hagen Dannhaus, and Presleigh Thornburg.

Brian Rutledge earned Firefighter of the Year among fellow nominees Tommy Bond, Seth Wells, Logan Bushong, and Keith Obert.

Engineer of the Year was Mike Kelly among nominees Nathan Swaim, Dustin Rowe, Spencer Urbanowski, and Brandon Lafler.

Officer of the Year Lt. Dusty Hallman was chosen among nominees Lt. Derrick Self, Lt. Jason Hinton, Lt. Tyler Ramsey, and Capt. Alex Collins.

Brotherhood Excellence Service Teamwork Award (B.E.S.T.) went to Lt. Rob Stone.

Citations were awarded to firefighters who saved lives last year through CPR.

By the numbers

Chief Watson highlighted numerous statistics and accomplishments of the firefighters for 2024.

The busiest companies in the district were Engine 46 of Springtown (1,854 calls) and Engine 51 of La Junta (1,310 calls). The busiest companies in particular categories were: Structure fires, Engine 51 of La Junta (37 fires); vehicle accidents, Truck 35 of Willow Park (145 calls), and grass fires, Brush 51 of La Junta (20 fires).

The fastest average “turnout time” in the district was Station 47 of Poolville with 46 seconds to be on the road after calls.

Totals for District 1 include 134 structure fires, 97 grass fires, 586 vehicle accidents, 33 rescues, and 3,155 medical calls for a total of 6,629 runs.