Pictured are Firefighter of Year Mark Ambrose and EMT of Year Dominick Meyers.
(Utica, NY – Nov. 2013) A four-year-old girl is alive today thanks to the efforts of Utica firefighters and paramedics who responded to a fire last Feb. 22 at Andrean Terrace Apartments. Utica American Legion Post 229 honored two of those first responders as Firefighter of the Year and Emergency Medical Technician of the Year during ceremonies Nov. 7. The honorees are:
— EMT of the Year Lt. Dominick Meyers, who assisted, while off-duty, in providing emergency medical care for the unconscious child.
— Firefighter of the Year Deputy Chief Mark Ambrose, who has been involved in a number of rescues, including that of the 4-year-old Andrean Terrace resident.
Utica Post 229 Law-and-Order Chair Paul Wojcik presented the awards, with Fire Chief Russell Brooks explaining that the first criteria”is strength, courage and bravery on the fire ground.”
Lieutenant Meyers, Brooks noted, was instrumental in inserting and maintaining an I/O line and “was the ‘go to’ guy in the rear of the ambulance during transport.” Meyers was appointed to the Fire Department in 2002, became a paramedic a year later, and was appointed fire lieutenant in 2010. He supervises five paramedics and runs a platoon that operates three ambulances and an engine company.
Deputy Chief Ambrose “has received numerous awards for life-saving rescues,” Brooks said. “He is being recognized for command decisions that were made at the fire” where “a four-year-old child was rescued and revived.” Appointed to the Fire Deparment in 1989, Ambrose was promoted to lieutenant in 2000, captain in May of 2012, and deputy chief in July of 2012. Since 2008 Ambrose has been in charge of the Fire Department’s EMS Division. Ambrose also “demonstrates his commitment and dedication to the community,” the chief said, “by volunteering for several community events, such as Ride for Missing Children, Breast Cancer Ride, and several charity golf tournaments.”
The awards ceremony followed a dinner attended by Legionnaires, auxiliary members, and the families of both honorees.