Glassy Mountain Fire Department honored its firefighters during its annual Christmas and awards banquet in December.

Firefighter Zachary Coates (Travelers Rest) was named cadet of the year. Firefighter Donald Blanchard (Greer) was named rookie of the year. Firefighter Hunter Ward (Travelers Rest) was named volunteer of the year. Engineer/paramedic Donald Jeffers (Easley) was named career firefighter of the year. Sergeant Shawn Jenkins (Travelers Rest) was named officer of the year and Firefighter/Support Max Heim (Landrum) received the fire chief’s award. 

Merit awards were presented to Sergeant Shawn Jenkins (Travelers Rest) for most alarm responses; Firefighter John Roggy (Travelers Rest) for most in-house paid on call (POC) with 1,932 hours; Sergeant Branson Bowns (Travelers Rest) for most at-home POC with 1,572 hours; Engineer/Paramedic Don Jeffers for most career staff training hours completed; and Sergeant Shawn Jenkins for most volunteer training hours completed.

Length of service awards were presented to firefighter/support Max Heim for 25 years; support member Christine “Renae” Sprouse (Flat Rock, N.C.) for five years and firefighter Matthew Dowgos for five years.

The team award was presented to the 27 members that responded to a structure fire on Raven Road in July 2016.

– article submitted by Sharyn Arnold