Staff reports
The Burton Fire District honored its top firefighters for 2024 at a district banquet held over this past weekend.
Captain/EMT Ethan Webb was selected as the Burton Fire District’s 2024 Officer of the Year. Webb was hired by the fire district in 2011 and was chosen by his fire academy classmates for the Order of the Maltese Cross award, which is awarded to the candidate who best displays the ethos of the fire service.
In 2016, Webb was selected as the Burton Fire District Firefighter of the Year, and the Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year for saving the life of a woman off duty by performing CPR. In 2018, Webb was awarded the S.C. Firefighters’ Association Meritorious Action award for his efforts to save a man trapped under a mobile home. In 2022, then Lt. Webb, was also selected as the 2022 Officer of the Year.
Engineer/EMT Josh Fridley was selected as Burton Fire District’s Firefighter of the Year. Fridley was hired by the district in 2022 and promoted to Engineer just a year later. Fridley’s peers noted his continuous positive attitude, initiative in taking on new projects and training other firefighters, and his volunteer participation in several fire district committees on station and uniform improvements as reasons for nominating him for this award.
In addition, the district’s maintenance staff also noted his detailed vehicle inspections and constant preventive maintenance on the district’s emergency apparatus to ensure they are prepared to safely and
efficiently respond to emergencies.
Engineer Guido Portela was selected as Burton Fire District Shift I Firefighter of the Year, and Engineer/Paramedic Morgan Clifton was selected as Burton Fire District Shift II Firefighter of the Year.
