On Friday June 3rd the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department and the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad held their annual banquet at the Red Fox restaurant in Saranac Lake. The banquet is a time for us to reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of the past year. It is a time for us to say thank you not only to our members, but, it is also a time for us to honor our families who give so much by supporting us while we are away conducting our volunteer duties.

This past year was one of the busiest anyone currently serving can ever remember. For the year ending December 31, 2010 the SLVFD and SLVRS recorded 259 fire calls and 1001 EMS calls. If that wasn't enough consider that in the approximately 5 weeks leading up to the banquet the SLVFD has fought 6 structure fires and operated a multiple day command center at the firehouse for a flooding incident that some are calling a once every 100 year event.

In November the SLVRS was officially established and we welcomed the first hire of a full time paid EMT Jim Bankich. Outgoing Rescue Chief Vernon James was recognized for his long tenure in that position (6 Years) Julie Harjung now takes the reigns as Rescue Chief.

With the departure of Paid Drivers Ron Muncil and Kent Robinson we have welcomed to the ranks of Paid Drivers veteran SLVFD member and past Rescue Chief Dave Martelle. We wish Ron the very best in his new position in Harrietstown and Kent the very best in retirement.

During this past year we mourned the loss of past Chief Harrison Kent, and former members Monroe Gladd and Walter Stahl. We will miss them and we will always honor their service.

The banquet is also a time for us to recognize our members who go above and beyond who are deserving of special recognition. The link to the left entitled "honors and awards" will allow you to view the special meaning of our awards and we encourage you to take a look as you take the time to congratulate this year's award recipients.

The Chiefs Award:
Presented to Kent Robinson by Chief Brendan Keough in recognition of his 40 year career as a paid driver, Kent served 25 of those years as "Head Fire Driver". Kent was once recognized as the Northern NY Volunteer Firefighters Association "Fireman of the Year" for his part in rescuing 7 people from the 1981 Berkley Hotel Fire.
Click: http://saranaclakefire.com/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=33 for full story.

Top 5 awards for those who responded to the most fire calls:
1. Brendan Keough
2. Casey Taylor
3. Ken McLaughlin
4. Bob Nadon
5. Ryan Hathaway

Top 5 awards for those who responded to the most rescue calls:
1. Julie Harjung
2. Keegan Muldowney
3. Casey Taylor
4. Ryan Hathaway
5. Ken McLaughlin

Service Awards:
45 Years: Frank Brier, Ken McLaughlin, and John Law
35 Years: Kent Robinson
20 Years: Ed Hoyt
10 Years: Julie Harjung, and Chuck Dobson
05 Years: Mary Brown

Congratulations to our award recipients and thank you to the volunteers who serve this great department in this great community.

Special thanks to the Lake Pacid Volunteer Ambulance for providing coverage during the banquet, the banquet committee of Mary Brown, Diane Tkach, Julie Harjung, Chuck Dobson, and Casey Taylor, the Red Fox for providing an excellent meal, and to Keegan Muldowney and Julie Harjung for producing this year's slide show.

Click Here to Watch This Years Slide Show: http://www.saranaclakefire.com/content/videos/slideshow2011.cfm