MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- In May, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Fire and Emergency Services Division, Department of Public Safety was named the recipient of the Large Fire Department of the Year for the Marine Corps. Four months later, the personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services Division were presented with the plaque by Col. Daniel J. Lecce, the commanding officer for the base.
Lecce started off by thanking all the personnel and Marines who arrived to show their support. He then took time to address the firefighters who were present to receive the award.
“What you do goes unnoticed until something goes wrong – you are the silent protectors,” said Lecce. “But I see what you do and I am grateful that you are all here.”
Fire and Emergency Services were judged on six different areas, all crucial to win the award, but even more important to the safety of the base. The areas were customer service, innovativeness, department awards, accreditations, certificates and other recognitions.
In the end, MCB Camp Lejeune came out the winner in the Marine Corps competition.
Chief Bruce Goodwin, fire chief for the Fire and Emergency Services Division, also took this time to thank the people who work with him every day to keep the base safe.
“This rank and file of firefighters standing before me are the ones who earned this award and I am proud to accept this award on their behalf,” said Goodwin. “They’re the ones coming in during hurricanes and fires and spending 72 to 96 hours on the job. It’s because of them that we won.”
Assistant Chief Glenn Zurek, the training chief with Fire and Emergency Services, MCB Camp Lejeune, said base fire personnel are already preparing for the next competition.
“What made us stand out is the way we work together with base personnel and ourselves. This working relationship translates to great customer service for all that live, work and visit,” said Zurek. “These individuals make up our incredible team of emergency responders and without them we would have never gotten to this point. We’re constantly preparing, training and striving to improve what we do to ensure we are ready to respond when called upon.”