Greene Fire Department awards Colwell Firefighter of the Year
GREENE – The Greene Fire Department is proud to announce the selection of First Assistant Chief Mark Colwell as 2012 Firefighter of the Year.
“Mark is a role model for all in the fire service, a friend to all, and a leader willing to step up to any task,” said Tim Fenton, the department’s FFOTY in 2011, upon presenting the award at the annual banquet held at the Silo Restaurant on April 14. “We thank you and wish to recognize you for your unselfish dedication to the Greene Fire Department, your family and the community of Greene.”
Colwell has served the Greene Fire Department (GFD) since May 1990 and attended almost one-third of all calls in the past 10 years. He has held the positions of third assistant chief, first warden, first captain, and first lieutenant. He has been very involved with the setting up of department OSHA physicals, managing personnel records and updating the RedAlert and the County Firehouse systems and also takes the lead each year to set up for the Labor Day hose fights and running them Labor Day morning.
He has served on the following committees - clambake, safety, and department drills, FFOTY, station committee, annual banquet, station maintenance and Pancake Day. He volunteers his time as a driver for the emergency squad and is active as fire police at community events. He was Captain of Engine 211 Truck Team, the 1996 winner of the truck team competition. He has organized the banquet coverage for Oxford Fire Department for several years. He is also a member of the GFD Dive Team.
Colwell has promoted fire safety education and arranged fire prevention activities. He has 185 hours of state training courses including: Essentials of Firemanship, Firefighter Survival, Firefighter Safety and Survival for the Company Officer, Fire Behavior and Arson Awareness, Confined Space Awareness and Safety, Accident Victim Extrication Training, Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations, ICS 100, 200, and 700, Initial Fire Attack, Mass Confidence, On-line Fire Reporting System Training, Pump Operator and Emergency Vehicle Operations Course. He is qualified to operate Engine 213, Quint 2171, Brush 2151, as well as driving for the Greene Emergency Squad.
“During his 22 years with the department, he has always pitched in or taking a lead on solving problems,” wrote Fenton in a press release. “Many new officers and members have benefited from his mentorship. He remains calm, cool, and collective under all conditions and situations.”
After high school, Colwell served in the United States Marine Corps. He currently works for Earthlink as a field technician. He and his wife, Lisa, moved to Greene in 1990. The couple have three daughters Tricia, Leyna and Erica. His hobbies include hunting especially deer, duck, and turkey. He has recruited several FD members to share his love of duck hunting. He enjoys canoeing and kayaking with family and friends. The FFOTY 2012 recipient loves “The Scoop” for his daily ice cream, even if it means driving to Whitney Point. When not at the Scoop, fire station, home or work Mark can be found at his downtown home the “Pub” around the big table with friends, said Fenton.
“Mark has a knack for geography and with his work has been all over the Southern Tier as well as parts of New York and Pennsylvania. For his friends and family, he serves as a personal GPS always ready to talk them through being lost and finding the right road to travel,” added Fenton.
The fire department also recognized the following individuals for their years of service:
Jim Borst: 40 years
Clifford Jones: 40 years
George Day: 35 years
Charles Hurtgam: 35 years
Steve Northrup: 30 years
Larry Funnell: 35 years
Amy Jenks: 10 years.
“Mark is a role model for all in the fire service, a friend to all, and a leader willing to step up to any task,” said Tim Fenton, the department’s FFOTY in 2011, upon presenting the award at the annual banquet held at the Silo Restaurant on April 14. “We thank you and wish to recognize you for your unselfish dedication to the Greene Fire Department, your family and the community of Greene.”
Colwell has served the Greene Fire Department (GFD) since May 1990 and attended almost one-third of all calls in the past 10 years. He has held the positions of third assistant chief, first warden, first captain, and first lieutenant. He has been very involved with the setting up of department OSHA physicals, managing personnel records and updating the RedAlert and the County Firehouse systems and also takes the lead each year to set up for the Labor Day hose fights and running them Labor Day morning.
He has served on the following committees - clambake, safety, and department drills, FFOTY, station committee, annual banquet, station maintenance and Pancake Day. He volunteers his time as a driver for the emergency squad and is active as fire police at community events. He was Captain of Engine 211 Truck Team, the 1996 winner of the truck team competition. He has organized the banquet coverage for Oxford Fire Department for several years. He is also a member of the GFD Dive Team.
Colwell has promoted fire safety education and arranged fire prevention activities. He has 185 hours of state training courses including: Essentials of Firemanship, Firefighter Survival, Firefighter Safety and Survival for the Company Officer, Fire Behavior and Arson Awareness, Confined Space Awareness and Safety, Accident Victim Extrication Training, Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations, ICS 100, 200, and 700, Initial Fire Attack, Mass Confidence, On-line Fire Reporting System Training, Pump Operator and Emergency Vehicle Operations Course. He is qualified to operate Engine 213, Quint 2171, Brush 2151, as well as driving for the Greene Emergency Squad.
“During his 22 years with the department, he has always pitched in or taking a lead on solving problems,” wrote Fenton in a press release. “Many new officers and members have benefited from his mentorship. He remains calm, cool, and collective under all conditions and situations.”
After high school, Colwell served in the United States Marine Corps. He currently works for Earthlink as a field technician. He and his wife, Lisa, moved to Greene in 1990. The couple have three daughters Tricia, Leyna and Erica. His hobbies include hunting especially deer, duck, and turkey. He has recruited several FD members to share his love of duck hunting. He enjoys canoeing and kayaking with family and friends. The FFOTY 2012 recipient loves “The Scoop” for his daily ice cream, even if it means driving to Whitney Point. When not at the Scoop, fire station, home or work Mark can be found at his downtown home the “Pub” around the big table with friends, said Fenton.
“Mark has a knack for geography and with his work has been all over the Southern Tier as well as parts of New York and Pennsylvania. For his friends and family, he serves as a personal GPS always ready to talk them through being lost and finding the right road to travel,” added Fenton.
The fire department also recognized the following individuals for their years of service:
Jim Borst: 40 years
Clifford Jones: 40 years
George Day: 35 years
Charles Hurtgam: 35 years
Steve Northrup: 30 years
Larry Funnell: 35 years
Amy Jenks: 10 years.
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