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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>On Friday evening, Feb. 17, during a ceremony held at the Grays Hill fire station, the Burton Fire District recognized two personnel who were selected by their peers to represent the district as the 2022 Firefighter and Fire Officer of the Year.</p>
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<p>Burton Fire District Engineer/EMT Brandon Peskopos was selected and recognized as the 2022 Firefighter of the Year. Eng. Peskopos came to the Burton Fire District in 2021 with 12 years of experience from the Belmont Fire Department in Greenville County.&nbsp;</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://gtq.igo.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Burton-Captain-Ethan-Webb_2022-Officer-of-the-Year.jpg"><img src="https://gtq.igo.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Burton-Captain-Ethan-Webb_2022-Officer-of-the-Year-731x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63674"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ethan Webb</figcaption></figure>
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<p>“Whether spending six hours on the training ground assisting with training or cleaning the fire apparatus and stations, Brandon consistently demonstrates and shares his positive attitude and leadership,” Burton fire chief Harry Rountree said in a news release. “He has become a mentor to both our younger firefighters as well as those with experience. He is truly a team player.”</p>
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<p>Burton Fire District Captain/EMT Ethan Webb was selected and recognized as the 2022 Burton Fire Officer of the Year. Burton fire officials state that Captain Webb set the tone for his career from day one when he was selected by his fire academy classmates to receive the Order of the Maltese Cross award, which is awarded to someone who best exemplifies the integrity, honor, and ethos of the fire service. Captain Webb was selected in 2016 as both the Burton Fire District and Beaufort Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year. Also in 2016, then Engineer Webb was recognized for administering CPR and saving the life of a woman while off duty, and in 2018 as a Lieutenant, he was awarded a S.C. Firefighters’ Association Meritorious Action award for assisting with the rescue of a man who became trapped after a vehicle struck his mobile home causing it to collapse on him.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Promoted to Captain in 2022, Ethan has continued that pace leading his crews both on the emergency scene and training ground, as well as providing professional guidance and counseling to younger members of the fire district.</p>
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<p>“These are always tough awards to give because so many of our firefighters work hard for the community every day and are also deserving,” Rountree said. “But with that, Engineer Peskopos and Captain Webb without a doubt, represent them all and are certainly deserving of this honor.”</p>
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