Forsyth County Fire Department Recognizes and Promotes Personnel, Welcomes New Firefighters
Personnel receive awards for life-saving actions
In a ceremony held Thursday, March 29, the Forsyth County Fire Department presented awards, promoted four personnel and swore in four new firefighters. Family, friends and Fire Department staff attended the ceremony held at the Central Park Recreation Center.
The event began with the presentation of awards to a number of department personnel.
“Periodically, the Forsyth County Fire Department reviews incidents in which the actions of our personnel have resulted in a life saved,” said Division Chief Jason Shivers, who served as emcee for the ceremony. “Additionally, specific incidents that result in decisive and extraordinary efforts by a company are reviewed for Unit Citation Awards.”
Four Unit Citation awards and four Life Saved awards were presented to Fire Department personnel in recognition of outstanding actions over the past several years. Some of the Life Saved awards were presented to the firefighters by the individuals whose lives they saved. Also, three citizens were recognized with Citizen Life Saved awards for their decisive actions that contributed to the saving of a young drowning victim in the summer of 2017.
In the promotional portion of the event, the following members of the department were formally promoted to new positions:
• Deputy Fire Marshall Steve Melton Baker was promoted to the rank of division chief, fire marshal.
• Fire Inspector, Sr. Edward Walter Siggelkow was promoted to the rank of deputy fire marshal.
• Fire Inspector Tony Lynn Holbrook was promoted to the rank of fire inspector, sr.
• Sergeant Kenneth Darrell Phillips was promoted to the rank of fire lieutenant.
In the swearing-in portion of the ceremony, four probationary firefighters officially became Forsyth County firefighters. The four came to the county already holding their firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician or paramedic certification, and have completed the department’s four-week orientation and overview. Those new Forsyth County firefighters are:
• Daniel Lee Clausen
• Miguel Garcia-Carreras
• Zakary Kyle Holbrook
• Mark Alan Watson
“I am honored to witness those receiving recognitions tonight, whether it be an award for their outstanding service or a well-deserved promotion,” said Fire Chief Danny Bowman. “We are also very proud to welcome to the department our newest firefighters, as they begin their new career serving the citizens and visitors of Forsyth County.”