FAIRFIELD FIRE STATION #1 SELECTED AS

2002 GOLD STAR CHILI FIRE HOUSE OF THE YEAR

CINCINNATI, Ohio - (October 24, 2002) - Fire fighters from Fairfield Fire Station #1 and Fairfield Fire Chief Donald G. Bennett will be honored at a luncheon on Tuesday, October 29 recognizing Fairfield Fire Station #1 as the 2002 Gold Star Chili Fire House of the Year. The award has been presented yearly since 1995 by Gold Star Chili and the Tri State Fire Safety Association to the Fire Fighter of the Year, and has been expanded this year to also recognize a Fire House of the Year. In addition to the award, Fairfield Fire Station #1 will receive $1,000 from Gold Star Chili, Inc. to further support the fire house’s efforts in promoting fire safety and prevention.

The award is presented to an organization of fire fighters that demonstrates a team effort and dedicates a significant amount of time to promote fire safety and prevention in their community. The award selection committee considered the fire houses’ fire prevention/education program (including goals, specific activities, and groups reached), the qualities of teamwork and leadership, the unique qualities of the prevention/education program, the public services other than fire and EMS provided to the community, and accomplishments and qualities in addition to fire prevention and education.

Fairfield Fire Station #1’s nomination was selected as the winner based on it’s portion of Fairfield’s nationally-recognized web site as well as the many programs carried out by the fire house’s full-time as well as volunteer fire fighters. Currently, the web site lists over thirty topics which include not only information on the department and community involvement activities such as the Fire Academy For Kids, but also Disaster Preparedness Tips, Fire Escape Plan Guide, Extinguishing Kitchen Fires, Smoke Detector Guide, Safety Tips & Guidelines, information on the programs offered to citizens and businesses... and even a page featuring "Jazz" the fire house’s resident Dalmatian.

A few of the award winning fire prevention and education programs include; Citizens Fire Academy, Fire Academy for Kids, safety fair, smoke detector program for elderly and low income residents, CPR programs, and Movies In the Park which includes a public education program. This year a child bicycle safety helmet program was implemented focusing on both education and providing helmets free of charge to area children who are in need of the safety equipment. Cards offering free helmets are distributed to children in the community not wearing helmets, and free helmets are offered to children visiting Mercy Fairfield Hospital whose helmet has been damaged in an incident or who were not wearing a helmet in an incident.

The award luncheon will take place in the Losantiville Room of Cincinnati Museum Center on Tuesday, October 29, Noon-1:30 p.m. The award and $1,000 from Gold Star Chili, Inc. will be presented by John Sullivan, CEO of Gold Star Chili, Inc. Fairfield Fire Chief Donald G. Bennett and fire fighters from Fairfield Fire Station #1 will attend the luncheon. Scheduled speakers include regional fire officials, members of the Tri State Fire Safety Association, Fairfield city officials, the Fire Fighter of the Year 2001, Richard Bell, and Bobby Smith, Fire Specialist, Cincinnati Fire Department, who was the recipient of the first Gold Star Fire Fighter of the Year Award in 1995.

"Gold Star Chili is honored to present the Fire House of the Year award in recognition of those fire fighters who place their lives in jeopardy for us each day and also go above and beyond their responsibilities by educating the community about fire safety and prevention," said John Sullivan, chief executive officer of Gold Star Chili.

 ###

Back to "Press Releases"