New firefighter recruits are welcomed at badge-pinning
Eight promotions, six new recruits, three new support members, and seven new Explorer program participants were announced recently at a Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department badge pinning ceremony. The ceremony was held at the main fire station in Fortuna on Nov. 11.
Guest speaker Humboldt County 2nd District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell called Fortuna a special community and offered words of encouragement to fire department personnel.
“These are men and women from all walks of life,” Bushnell said, “and they live all around you. It is fitting for this pinning ceremony to be held on Veterans Day.”
First to be introduced were new recruits Zachary Trotter and Riley Cameron of the fire department’s Company 1, Alan Agnone of Company 2, and Erik Crummett, Eva-Marie Kenyon, and Kataryna Bach of Company 5.
New Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department support members are Hannes Becker, Annaka Massek, and Enoch Ibarra. The personnel do not participate in actual firefighting but assist the department in other ways including disaster planning and working with the Explorer program.
New Explorer program members are sister and brother, Emma and Jacob Covington, Toshiro Ozawa, Sydnee Foley, Cairo Rios, Olivia Weitz, and Taitleeana Bieniek. This program is open to youth between the ages of 14 and 20.
Advancing their career within the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department were Kyle Kertscher, promoted to staffing captain and Garrett Petersen, promoted to division chief, in charge of training.
Firefighters promoted within the department were Faith Tomasini to 2nd Lieutenant in Company 1, Jeremiah Covington to 2nd Lieutenant and Cody Waddell to Captain in Company 2, and Robbie Anderson to 2nd Lieutenant, Chad Gibbs to 1st Lieutenant, and Tanner Mendes to Captain in Company 5.
A special note was made of Tomasini, being a third-generation firefighter. Her badge was pinned on her by her grandfather “Papa” Lee Tomasini, a retired Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department firefighter, chief for ten years, and fire district director.
In closing remarks, Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lon Winburn said, “To those of you standing here, thank you for taking on the challenge (and) I hope you can find that spark that ignites a lifetime of public service in whatever direction you take. I encourage you to seek out that bigger picture, and be part of the fire service culture where you’ll find the rewards are priceless.”