PHOTOS

FALLEN FIREFIGHTER HONORED - As part of its annual banquet, the Morristown Volunteer Fire Department paid tribute to the late Bryan E. Bogardus, a 20-year member of the department who passed away July 8. Mr. Bogardus?s family was presented with a clock inscribed with the following: ?In Memory of Bryan Bogardus for his 20 Years of Service to the Morristown Fire Department. Seated from left to right are Bogardus family members, including Kerstin Massia, daughter, Penny Bogardus, mother, Zackary Bogardus, son, Yvonne Bogardus, wife, and Brooke Massia, daughter. Standing, from left, are Brandy Bogardus, sister, James Bogardus III, father, First Asst. Chief Dean Hoffman, Chief Kevin Crosby, Second Asst. Chief Jay Moore, and Yvette Bogardus, sister.

FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR - Danielle N. Barse, seated, was named the Morristown Volunteer Fire Department?s 2011 Firefighter of the Year at the department?s annual banquet Saturday. She is joined by, from left, First Asst. Chief Dean Hoffman, Chief Kevin J. Crosby, and Second Asst. Chief Jay Moore.

Danielle Barse named firefighter of year at Morristown Volunteer Fire Department’s annual banquet

By MATT MCALLISTER

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012

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MORRISTOWN - Calling her a great woman, a good firefighter and a competent medic, Fire Chief Kevin J. Crosby named Danielle N. Barse the 2011 Firefighter of the Year Saturday evening at the Morristown Volunteer Fire Department’s annual banquet.

“She’s probably going to ask what I was drinking when I said this, but I wish I had 10 more just like her,” Mr. Crosby said Wednesday.

An 11-year veteran of the department, Mrs. Barse serves on an emergency medical services duty crew as a medic and as the department’s treasurer.

“She gives 110 percent to this department and puts her heart and soul into anything she does,” Mr. Crosby said. “She was an easy choice as this year’s firefighter of the year.”

Mrs. Barse became the department’s second woman to receive firefighter of the year honors, joining 2007 recipient Gail Gassert.

Composed of 42 active members, including 11 medics, eight scuba divers, and 19 internal firefighters, the department responded to 371 calls in 2011. Of these, 80 were for fires, 27 were automobile accidents, and the remaining 264 were ambulance-related.

“Eight-thousand man hours in total, which equates to one call per day, averaging 22 man hours per call,” Mr. Crosby said.

Joined by First Assistant Chief Dean Hoffman and Second Assistant Chief Jay Moore, who shared the chief’s award, Mr. Crosby handed out several plaques recognizing years of service to the department.

Cited for 40 years of service were Kit W. Smith and Steve Spilman, while Bruce VanArnam received a 30-year plaque. Mr. Crosby received 20-year accolades, Earl Barse Jr. was recognized for 15 years, and James Bertram and Mr. Moore earned praise for 10 years. Richard Gilbo Jr., Dan Ladoucer, and James Walsh achieved five years of service to the department.

Auxiliary Chief Sally Barse presented Mr. Crosby with a check for $500, which will be put towards the purchase two new carbon monoxide meters for the department’s ambulance services.

“The letter drive is out,” Mr. Crosby said Wednesday. “This technology will allow us to monitor CO levels in fire victims on site. They cost about $7,500 a piece.”

Jeannie McLear was honored with the Auxiliary Chief’s Award, and Nancy Dulmage was recognized for five years of service to the Auxiliary,

The department also paid tribute to the late Bryan E. Bogardus, a department member who passed away on July 8. Family members in attendance were presented with an inscribed clock.

“I came in with Bryan,” Mr. Crosby said. “He would have been receiving his 20-year plaque at the banquet, too. It was an unfortunate loss. This was a small tribute to a great guy that touched a lot of lives and was liked by even more people.

We were obviously glad his wife, children, mother, father and sister joined us to honor him Saturday night,” he said.