Virginia Beach Fire Department Wins Two Governor’s Awards for Excellence and Two Citizens Win Governor’s Life Saving Awards

The Virginia Beach Fire Department won two “Governor’s Fire Service Awards” for our efforts in 2011.  The Virginia Beach Fire Life Safety Brigade won the prestigious “Excellence in Virginia’s Public Fire and Life Safety Education” award for their Water and Fire Safety, Bullying, and Disaster Planning programs that were provided to 22,458 students from kindergarten through third grade.

The Virginia Beach Fire Department also won the “Outstanding Fire Department Response” award for their response to a boating accident in the Chesapeake Bay that involved a 12-year old girl who was impaled on a propeller in eight feet of water.

Mr. John Pritchard and Mr. Craig Thompson of “Blue Marlin Marine” won the "Civilian Life Saving Award” for their contributions in the Marine Rescue of the 12-year old girl.  Mr. Pritchard donned SCUBA equipment and the specialized tools needed to remove the propellers, thus allowing the firefighters to free the child and prepare her for transport to Norfolk General Hospital.

The awards will be given at the opening ceremony of the Virginia Fire Chief’s Association Conference at the Virginia Beach Conference Center on February 25, 2012, at 0800 in the morning.  This event is open to the public and admission is free.

For more information, please contact Battalion Chief Tim Riley at 757-385-1075 or e-mail at triley@vbgov.com. 

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