Every year, the Kiwanis Club of Flagler County honors area firefighters for their service to the community in a line of work that promises high risk and long hours. Kiwanis gave out its 2012 Firefighter of the Year awards Wednesday at a luncheon.

Bunnell Fire Department

Chief Derek Fraser, of the Bunnell Fire Department, presented Lt. Bob Chace with his award.

Chace, who moved to Florida from Connecticut in 1996, started out as a volunteer and worked his way up to his current position. Of about 3,500 calls the Bunnell Fire Department has had since 2000, Fraser said, Chace has made about 60% of them.

Flagler Beach Fire Department

Senior firefighter David Kennedy was awarded Firefighter of the Year for the Flagler Beach Fire Department. Kennedy served in the U.S. Air Force before becoming a firefighter.

“He jumped out of perfectly good airplanes,” said Flagler Beach Fire Chief Martin Roberts. “That right there tells you something about him.”

In addition to fighting fires, Kennedy attends Daytona State College, where he has been recognized for his academic achievement.

Flagler County Emergency Services

Paramedic and firefighter Kyle Lockwood was named Firefighter of the Year by a panel of his peers.

“These guys, day in and day out, are responding to things that are catastrophic to most people,” Roberts said as he introduced Lockwood. “And they live with these things for the rest of their lives.”

Palm Coast Fire Department

The 2012 Firefighter of the Year for the city of Palm Coast is volunteer Lt. Mario Munoz, who’s worked with the department for more than five years.

“Mario is a family man, he has a full time job, and everything he does here is as a volunteer,” said Capt. Tim Wilsey as he presented the award. “Still, he does more than what most would do.”

 

 

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