KVFD Banquet Recognizes Firemen, Community

The Keysville Volunteer Fire Department held their annual awards banquet this past Saturday to recognize the hard work and dedication of their department and to thank those in the community who support the department.

For photos of this event, click here.

The awards banquet is the one meal each year that the volunteers can eat without the possibility of receiving a fire call and leaving their plates and families to respond. The Meherrin Volunteer Fire Department was on call during the dinner in case of any emergency.

On any other day of the year, these dedicated men and women will leave their jobs, their homes, their beds, their families and their meals on their tables to respond to the needs of the community. The banquet is their one night off for 2014.

“In 2014, 142 calls were responded to by dedicated members of the Keysville Volunteer Fire Department. These men and women believe in what they do, and willingly give their time to protect the community, ” Chief Lynn Duffey told those assembled. To be prepared for the type of calls these men and women may encounter in any given situation requires a great deal of training and time away from home.  The new training required by the state of Virginia is a 96-hour program that is at the expense of the volunteer. Duffey emphasized that the people in the department sitting in the room were there because they wanted to be there. In addition to the required training, the firemen and women spend time taking care of the equipment, attending meetings and preparing for the Fireman’s Competition that is held in September. Duffey explained that there are seven events in the Fireman’s Competition and Keysville participated in all seven. The competition reinforces the skills learned and helps the department train with a purpose.

Duffey recognized Scotty Jackson, Chris Miller and Chris Duffey for continuing their education by attending a special 36 -hour hazardous material training to have the skills necessary to meet the changing needs of the community.

Chief Duffey added, “This dinner is the total compensation these men and women receive for a year’s work as volunteer fire fighters.”