South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue annual awards evening

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Duke Theatre at Lake Tahoe Community College was full of firefighters and their families on Thursday, along with community members to celebrate the men and women of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue.

The annual evening acknowledges remarkable events throughout the year, years of service, promotions, and various awards, along with weddings and new babies.

2022 was a year of rebuilding the ranks of the departure which hadn't been fully staffed in a while. They have a new chief in Jim Drennan, a new fire marshal, a new captain, a new battalion chief along with new firefighters.

Awards were given to:

Firefighter of the year: Engineer EMTP Mike Mileski
Dispatcher of the year: Marissa Gonsalez
Meritorious award: Captain Jack, Captain Taormina, Engineer Benavidez, FF Berthinier, FF Hubbard & FF Longoria
Badges pinned: FF Dunn, Captain Kerley, Battalion Chief Keys, Fire Marshal George & Fire Chief Drennan

The Meritorious Award was given to six men listed above after they responded to the death of a retired and distinguished Navy Seal. The deceased and his wife were in South Lake Tahoe on vacation alone, visiting from their home in Florida. Drennan said the staff showed care and thoughtfulness to the wife, rearranging her flight home and even driving her to the Reno Aiport after their shift was over so she wouldn't be alone.