The Inter-Mountain photo by Sarah Goodrich Buckhannon Fire Chief JB Kimble, from left, poses with Steve Long, Vaden Queen, Steve Thacker and Glen Davis after presenting the volunteer firefighters with a 20-plus years service coin from the state fire marshal’s office.

BUCKHANNON — Several members of the Buckhannon Fire Department were recognized for their dedication and time of service Thursday.

During the Buckhannon City Council meeting, John Brugnoli and Tanner Smith – former probationary firefighters – were officially pinned as firefighters/EMTs with the fire department after being on probation for a year.

“In the last year, John and Tanner have fulfilled firefighter one completion, firefighter two, EMT certification, driver operator with trust and the engine,” said fire chief JB Kimble. “So you’re looking at close to 500-600 hours of training in their first year.”

Four volunteer firefighters who have 20-plus years of service with the BFD were recognized, as well.

Fire chief JB Kimble presented service coins from the state fire marshal’s office to Vaden Queen, Steve Thacker, Glen Davis and Steve Long for their dedication and years of service to the community and fire department.

“The state fire marshal’s office have coins that they give out — and I had no idea about this in my whole career — but I found it, and I wanted to start promoting our volunteers that we have and the time that they commit to training and for the public,” said the fire chief.

Thacker has approximately 35 years of service, with Long close behind with 32 years of service. Davis has 20-plus years of dedication and Queen has racked up 28 years of service to the department.

“This is free service that people give to our community and take away from their families,” said Kimble about the volunteer firemen. “I want people to realize that.”

With the BFD responding to roughly 1,300 calls this year, Kimble said the volunteers are responding to five to seven calls per day.

“Leaving working, leaving their families, and sometimes the last thing a volunteer wants to do after they do that all week is commit to something on the weekends when they could be with their families,” he said.

Kimble added, “These guys and girls commit their life and commit their time to serve the public.” Without the entire group that make up the BFD, Kimble said he is “nothing.”

“It takes all of us,” he said.

In other news, council members:

∫ Approved resolution 2018-15, which is the acceptance of the interparties special warranty deed between St. Joseph’s Hospital and the City of Buckhannon.

∫ Approved resolution 2018-16, which is the FEMA HMGP Generator application #1.

∫ Approved resolution 2018-17, which is the FEMA HMPG Generator application #2.

∫ Approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 429 – the re-forming of the Buckhannon Planning Commission.

∫ BFD Fire Chief Kimble warned community members to not block roads or driveways while partaking in West Virginia’s Largest Yard Sale throughout Buckhannon and Weston this weekend.