Lt. Mike Miracle won three awards at the 37th Annual Whitfield County Firefighter’s Appreciation Banquet on Nov. 11.
But the real winners are actually the two people whose lives he and his crew helped save with their CPR training earlier this year.
“I can say I went through 28 years (as a firefighter) in DeKalb County and I think I made a difference,” Whitfield County Fire Chief Edward O’Brien said, “but I can’t say I did something that truly saved a life. So this really stands out. You don’t really have very many saves by the time someone calls 911, truck’s dispatched, no one’s doing CPR on the scene, and you actually get a pulse back. But Lt. Miracle was actually on two calls with his crew where they were able to save lives with CPR.”
For service to the community like that during the past quarter-century, Mr. Miracle earned Career Firefighter of the Year honors during the 37th annual banquet, held at the Dalton Golf & Country Club.
“I’m honored,” Mr. Miracle told his fellow firefighters. “I’ve had great co-workers this year that had more to do with the two CPR saves. It’s a privilege to work with all of y’all. I’d go anywhere with anybody in this room … and have with most of you! It’s just a big family. I’ve got 125 brothers and sisters, so I’m honored to be up here. It means a lot to me.”
Mr. Miracle also received the First Responder of the Year award from Hamilton EMS, presented by Capt. Lee Duman.
Capt. Duman praised Mr.Miracle for setting a standard for local emergency workers, noting that he always has vital information collected by the time EMS crews arrive on the scene.
“He also helps families cope with the situation,” Capt. Duman said, pointing out that Mr. Miracle recently spent several hours helping clean up a resident’s house that had become cluttered with trash being hidden by an Alzheimer’s patient.
Mr. Miracle capped his trifecta of honors with a 25-year service award.
In other major awards, Wendy Saylors was named Rookie Firefighter of the Year, while Richard Grooms was Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.
Saylors “has shown time and time again that (she) is there when we need her,” said Assistant Chief Danny Roach, who presented the award. “She went above and beyond the things that an actual recruit would have to do. Enough can’t be said about her.”
Assistant Chief Randy Kittle and Volunteer Assistant Chief Huey Talley praised Grooms for his efforts as a long-time volunteer.
“This guy’s been in the department for many years,” Kittle said. “He’s never missed a training that I know of. When he couldn’t go, he went. When you ask him to do something, there’s no hesitation. If he could do it, he did it. If he couldn’t do it, he still tried to do it. He’s dedicated.”
“I’ve known (Grooms) for many years,” Talley said. “He’s very dedicated, a person that would do anything for you. He’s never failed to cooperate with us and I appreciate him very much. To me he’s been a great part of this department since he’s been here.”
Service awards were presented to several firefighters, including:
35 Years
Jeff Heatherly.
30 Years
Richard Grooms and Ricky Lloyd.
25 Years
Shawn Damon, Dennis Green, and Mike Miracle.
20 Years
Michael Blair and Gary Hamrick.
15 Years
Robert Kendall, Jeff Ownby, and Danny Roach.
10 Years
Jason Boyd, Randall Boyd, Robert Buhl, Nathan Callaway, Jason Dial, Josh Howard, Josh Key, Sam Laney, Kyle Lawless, Jason Phillips, and Wesley Williams.
5 Years
Jacob Chester, Jonathon Green, Charles Heard, Tate Metcalf, and Evan Souther.
County Commissioners Mike Babb and Harold Brooker attended the banquet, with Chairman Babb taking the podium to thank the firefighters for the service they provide to local citizens.
“Thank you for the work that you do for the county and the service that you deliver to the citizens,” Chairman Babb said. “We appreciate your spouses that are here tonight; you are part of this team because you allow your spouses to go out and do this job. And volunteers, we appreciate you because you help keep the budget under control for the county.”
Chairman Babb noted that while residents pay a portion of their property tax to fund the fire department, they in turn enjoy savings on their home insurance rates because of that protection.
“You’re delivering a god service at a great price and a good benefit to the citizens,” Chairman Babb told the firefighters, “before you ever get down to the saving of property and lives.”
Coroner Bobbie Dixon also thanked the firefighters for the help they provide to her office.
Fire Chief O’Brien, who took over this summer after Chief Carl Collins retired, said he has enjoyed working with the firefighters in Whitfield County.
“It’s unbelievable the dedication of this department,” O’Brien said. “If someone’s asked to do something, they don’t ask about when or how, it’s just OK, we’ll get it done. You make me proud every day that you’re out there, and I appreciate all of the things you do every day for us.”
Capt. Russell Wilson gave an update on the training efforts of the past year, noting that the department is on track to complete 34,000 hours of training by the end of 2014.