Company Recognizes Top Responders - Monte Wisbrock

Friday, November 21, 2008

At its annual award dinner held on November 8th, the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company recognized those members who responded to the most fire calls during the twelve month reporting period ending September 30, 2008. During that period, the Company answered 393 fire calls. Holding the top slot for last year, as he has for most of the past decade, is Fire Police Captain and chief engineer Bill Bowden, who made an amazing 347 calls, over 88% of all responses. Rounding out the top seven are Asst. Chief Luke Powell (72%), Asst. Chief Brian McConlogue (70%), Assistant Secretary Bob Minutoli (68%) and Brian Reed, fire police officer Chuck Young and fire police officer and Firefighter of the Year Wayne Fuller (tied at 67%). Other honorees, in order, are, Anthony Donofrio, LT Jason Hudson, LT James Miller, Asst. Chief Shane Truitt, Asst. Engineer Steve Gilbert, fire police officer John Barthel, Dan Lyons, past fire chief and life member Chad Hickman, LT Tyler Hickman, past president and Assistant Engineer Michael Wilgus, FF Travis Hickman and LT Todd Hickman. Response rates in this group ranged from 67% for Fuller to 50% for Hickman. Mac Brooks was the top-responding junior firefighter for the second year. Chris Acton received special recognition for his support on calls. The BBVFC estimates that its members invested over 7,000 person-hours in responding to 393 fire and 385 EMS calls in the reporting period. Total call volume of 778 was up over 4% from the prior year. We are indebted to these and all volunteers who provide quick responses to the community’s emergency calls. Monte Wisbrock is a firefighter with and president of the BBVFC, which he joined in 2001. He is a retired U.S. Army sergeant major and past president of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and was the BBVFC’s Firefighter of the Year in 2005. Monte lives in Bethany Beach with his wife, Cheryl, and can be reached at [email protected].