- May 5, 2024
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The Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club recognized Firefighter of the Year from all four departments in Flagler County at its annual Firefighter of the Year luncheon held Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Italian American Club.
“This is one of the most wonderful things the Kiwanis can do, is recognize the firefighter and paramedics for the job they do every day because they don’t get to hear that every day,” said Flagle County Emergency Services Chair Don Petito. “And on a daily basis, they are out there saving lives, saving property and doing things that are pretty much expected from them in their job description.”
For the second year in a row, Lt. Kyle Berryhill was recognized at the recipient for the city of Palm Coast. Berryhill has been with the department for 12 years and recently wrote, submitted and received a $225,000 grant for the department for new air packs. The air packs will increased response from a 30-minute bottle to a 45-minute bottle, allowing firefighters to do more work inside a structure with a higher capacity bottle than the department has had in the past.
The new bottles will be added to department front engines this month.
Lt. Richard Kocki was the honor for the Bunnell Fire Department. He began his fire journey in 2006 and since has received his state certification in firefighting EMT/paramedic, fire instructor and is working on his fire officer certification. He joined the department in 2012 and has put in more than 2,000 hours as a volunteer.
For the Flagler Beach department, Lt. Dustin Snyder was the award recipient. He has been with the department for four years and has been pivotal in implementing protocol now used by all staff.
“He has always made himself available and is more than willing to take on extra duties,” said Captain Robert Pace.
Flagler County Emergency Services chose Firefighter/Paramedic Jon Moscawitz as its award recipient, Petito referring to him as a “go-to guy.” He works as a field training officer, training new employees and also existing staff on new procedures. Moscawitz also works with the American Heart Association to coordinate all local training for CPR and advanced life support.
