The Burton Fire District held its annual awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Traditions restaurant on Parris Island.
The top honor went to Assistant Fire Chief Brian Wagner, who was named Officer of the Year. Chief Wagner is the district’s Medical Training Officer overseeing the district’s Basic and Advanced Life Support programs. Chief Wagner was noted for upgrading the district’s medical program for both firefighters and the public. Specifically, with more than 65 percent of the emergency calls involving a medical emergency, Chief Wagner initiated the district’s new Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program, increasing the skills of district EMTs and enabling them to deliver more advanced medical treatment to citizens. Chief Wagner also upgraded the district’s hazardous materials capability, and he oversees the hazardous materials response team for north of the Broad River. His peers universally applaud him for taking the Burton Fire District “to the next level.”
Firefighter of the Year went to Firefighter/EMT Charles Wilson. Wilson has only been with the Burton Fire District a year and a half, but his peers have stated that in such a short time, he has made a major impact on the district’s operations. A former Beaufort County Sheriff’s Deputy, Wilson has assisted in preparing Burton firefighters to respond to active shooting events, which was proven through the increased capability and safety of firefighters while operating at recent shootings in Burton. Wilson has voluntarily assumed the maintenance of the district’s crucial breathing apparatus program, which allows firefighters to function in smoke and low oxygen levels. His peers describe him as a “true professional.”
The Burton Fire District also reflected on all its 2018 operations. The district responded to 3,145 emergency calls with two documented lives being saved through quick response and CPR/AED. Firefighters logged over 12,000 man hours of training, and educated 1,200 citizens in fire safety, CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed. The district also started a Community Risk Reduction program to increase its safety and prevention outreach to the public.
