See sub-menus for more stories and photographs in each award category.
PCFCA President Ed Ward pictured with outgoing CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc Plumas Unit Chief Brad Lutts on his retirement. Chief Lutts was recognized for outstanding service in his career, and for being an active participant in our association.
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We believe in recognizing excellence and saying 'thank you' both within the
Plumas County Fire Service, and also to those supporting our success who are not in the fire service. We do this annually through giving several perpetual awards, along with giving special recognition to individuals and groups. Note: We will eventually publish brief biographies for all recipients. Some have been completed, and more are coming. |
Plumas News
Inside the Fire House Column
By Tom Forster
December 28, 2017
Fire Chiefs Recognize Outstanding Service & Support
Multiple special recognition awards were handed out at the year-end meeting of the Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association. Thirty members and guests participated in the annual event at Graeagle FD, followed by a BBQ lunch.
“Our non-profit association values recognizing and thanking people for a job well done, in support of our local fire and emergency services,” said PCFCA President and Graeagle Chief Ed Ward. He presented the perpetual Steve Tolen Leadership in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Award to Matt Brown and Sam Blesse of Care Flight, in recognition of their outstanding work improving EMS in Quincy and beyond. “Among their many accomplishments are a big improvement in survival rates for those patients in need of Cardio-Pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)”, said Ward.
The perpetual Chief Robbie Cassou Training Instructor of the Year Award was given to Captain David Schmid of Quincy FD, in recognition of his excellent contributions to the Quincy Fire Academy over many years. “David has also made outstanding contributions to public education and fire safety education for the schools,” said Chief Cassou, “…he is very devoted to what we do.”
Retiring Indian Valley FD Chief Jim Hamblin was recognized for 70 years of excellent service to his community. He received a full-size, engraved brass Fire Chief’s speaking trumpet, used long ago by Chiefs to command fires in the days before two-way radios. “Jim has achieved a very rare and highly unusual length of service, for which he is to be commended,” said PCFCA Vice President and Chester Chief Joe Waterman.
Officer Mike Grant of the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department was recognized with a “Band-Aid, Duct Tape, and Bailing Wire” award, for his outstanding work since 2002 creating and maintaining the county-wide fire service communications system. “It was originally funded through grants that have long-ago dried up. Mike does an excellent job seeking new funding sources and other grants to keep it all running smoothly. His work has included many long hours spent repairing mountain-top radio repeater sites when they are damaged by severe weather,” said Quincy Chief Cassou, “Sometimes this has required trekking through deep snow and stormy conditions, but Mike has always come through.”
John Steffanic and his wife Denise Morganroth of Sierra Promotions received special thanks, in recognition of ongoing outstanding support to the Plumas County fire service. “John suggested we do a Firefighters Muster at the Plumas Sierra County Fair, through his part-time role as Fair Director,” said PCFCA Secretary Treasurer and Plumas Eureka Chief Tom Forster, “…in addition, they have generously donated all of the awards and t-shirts for the event each year, through their Portola business Sierra Promotions.”
PCFCA accomplishments for 2017 included expanding the regional Quincy Fire Academy for new firefighters, and offering numerous low-cost or free training courses. These included the California State Fire Training & Education System Driver Operator and Pump Operations classes, completed by 70 county firefighters total. In addition, a weekend National Fire Academy course was held, focused on Officers supervising life safety operations and structure protection during wildland fires.
“We also had very successful mutual aid operations, both inside and outside of our County,” said Chief Waterman, “Incidents we successfully coordinated resources for response included the Minerva, Toll, and Squirrel fires near Quincy, and many large state fires, including those in Butte, Sonoma, Napa, Ventura, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara counties.”
“We had a very productive, cooperative year,” said President Ward, “and we look forward to a great 2018 working together!” Now is a good time to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter in your community. The annual Quincy Fire Academy will be starting in March. Contact your local fire department for more information, and visit the PCFCA website at www.plumasfirechiefs.org
Inside the Fire House Column
By Tom Forster
December 28, 2017
Fire Chiefs Recognize Outstanding Service & Support
Multiple special recognition awards were handed out at the year-end meeting of the Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association. Thirty members and guests participated in the annual event at Graeagle FD, followed by a BBQ lunch.
“Our non-profit association values recognizing and thanking people for a job well done, in support of our local fire and emergency services,” said PCFCA President and Graeagle Chief Ed Ward. He presented the perpetual Steve Tolen Leadership in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Award to Matt Brown and Sam Blesse of Care Flight, in recognition of their outstanding work improving EMS in Quincy and beyond. “Among their many accomplishments are a big improvement in survival rates for those patients in need of Cardio-Pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)”, said Ward.
The perpetual Chief Robbie Cassou Training Instructor of the Year Award was given to Captain David Schmid of Quincy FD, in recognition of his excellent contributions to the Quincy Fire Academy over many years. “David has also made outstanding contributions to public education and fire safety education for the schools,” said Chief Cassou, “…he is very devoted to what we do.”
Retiring Indian Valley FD Chief Jim Hamblin was recognized for 70 years of excellent service to his community. He received a full-size, engraved brass Fire Chief’s speaking trumpet, used long ago by Chiefs to command fires in the days before two-way radios. “Jim has achieved a very rare and highly unusual length of service, for which he is to be commended,” said PCFCA Vice President and Chester Chief Joe Waterman.
Officer Mike Grant of the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department was recognized with a “Band-Aid, Duct Tape, and Bailing Wire” award, for his outstanding work since 2002 creating and maintaining the county-wide fire service communications system. “It was originally funded through grants that have long-ago dried up. Mike does an excellent job seeking new funding sources and other grants to keep it all running smoothly. His work has included many long hours spent repairing mountain-top radio repeater sites when they are damaged by severe weather,” said Quincy Chief Cassou, “Sometimes this has required trekking through deep snow and stormy conditions, but Mike has always come through.”
John Steffanic and his wife Denise Morganroth of Sierra Promotions received special thanks, in recognition of ongoing outstanding support to the Plumas County fire service. “John suggested we do a Firefighters Muster at the Plumas Sierra County Fair, through his part-time role as Fair Director,” said PCFCA Secretary Treasurer and Plumas Eureka Chief Tom Forster, “…in addition, they have generously donated all of the awards and t-shirts for the event each year, through their Portola business Sierra Promotions.”
PCFCA accomplishments for 2017 included expanding the regional Quincy Fire Academy for new firefighters, and offering numerous low-cost or free training courses. These included the California State Fire Training & Education System Driver Operator and Pump Operations classes, completed by 70 county firefighters total. In addition, a weekend National Fire Academy course was held, focused on Officers supervising life safety operations and structure protection during wildland fires.
“We also had very successful mutual aid operations, both inside and outside of our County,” said Chief Waterman, “Incidents we successfully coordinated resources for response included the Minerva, Toll, and Squirrel fires near Quincy, and many large state fires, including those in Butte, Sonoma, Napa, Ventura, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara counties.”
“We had a very productive, cooperative year,” said President Ward, “and we look forward to a great 2018 working together!” Now is a good time to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter in your community. The annual Quincy Fire Academy will be starting in March. Contact your local fire department for more information, and visit the PCFCA website at www.plumasfirechiefs.org
Chief Robbie Cassou.
Outstanding TrainingThe Chief Robbie Cassou Training Instructor of the Year Award
Established 2011 Award Recipients:
Robbie Cassou, 2011 Tom Forster, Plumas Eureka FD, 2012 John Gay, Quincy FPD 2013 Ed Ward, Graeagle FPD, 2014 Frank Carey, Quincy FPD, 2015 Dony Sawchuk, Quincy FPD, 2016 David Schmid, Quincy FPD, 2017 
Quincy Captain John Gay and PCFCA President/Chief Ed Ward
Quincy Assistant Fire Chief Frank Carey, his wife Amy, and Chief Robbie Cassou.
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Chief Robbie Cassou, Peter Beck, Totsie Beck, and PCFCA VP Joe Waterman.
Leadership in EMSThe Steve Tolen
Leadership in EMS Award Established 2014 Award Recipients:
Steve Tolen, 2014 Peter Beck, Plumas District Hospital, 2015 Ed Ward, Graeagle FPD, 2016 Matt Brown & Sam Blesse, Care Flight, 2017 
PCFCA President Ed Ward, and outgoing Portola Chief Travis Schiavone.
Retiring Fire ChiefsAward Recipients Include:
Brad Lutts, CAL FIRE Bill Shaw, La Porte FD Carl McDonald, Greenhorn Creek FD Travis Schiavone, Portola FD Thomas Hansen, Sierra Valley FPD Bill Bradfield, Meadow Valley FPD Gary Castagnetti, Plumas Eureka FD Dan Kenney, Long Valley FPD Ken Wilson, Prattville FPD Henry Johnson, Portola FD James Hamblin, Indian Valley FD |
PCFCA President Ed Ward and Jerry Sipe.
Special RecognitionOther Special Recognition & Thanks
Award Recipients include:
Ronny J. Coleman, 2011 Plumas County Sheriff's Office Dispatch & Communications, 2012 Charlie Plopper, Lake Almanor, 2013 Jerry Sipe, Plumas County OES, 2013 Plumas News, Publisher Mike Taborski, 2014 Gary Castagnetti, Plumas Eureka FD, 2014 Sue McCourt, Plumas County OES, 2015 Becky Osborn, Plumas County GIS, 2016 Graeagle Land & Water Company, 2016 Mike Grant, Plumas County Sheriff's Office, 2017 Denise Morganroth & John Steffanic, Sierra Promotions, 2017 
PCFCA President Ed Ward and Charlie Plopper.
PCFA President Ed Ward and Dan McDonald of Plumas News.
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