Ohio Heroes to be Honored at Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards Ceremony on May 14

Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal and Ohio Department of Public Safety Division of EMS will honor David Gaffney, a long-time chief of the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, at the 44^th annual Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Awards on Wednesday, May 14.

There are approximately 50,000 men and women who make up Ohio's fire service. This awards ceremony recognizes the bravery, commitment, and sacrifice they make every day on behalf of communities throughout the state.

These 22 honorees from around the state will be honored in the following categories:

2025 Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards Citizen's Award

Justin Thompson, Ford Amsbaugh, Kevin Jarvis, and Ronnie Smith (Ontario, Richland County)

Bill Hershberger and Karl Mounts (Orrville, Wayne County)

John Ehrsam and William Serries (Delta, Fulton County)

Fire Service Valor Award

Travis Birch (Newton Falls, Trumbull County)

Larry Walters (Medina, Medina County)

Schott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs, and Joseph Koziel (Youngstown, Mahoning County)

Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award

Brian Peterman (Millersburg, Holmes County)

Paul Wright (Lima, Allen County)

David Michael Young (Sardinia, Brown/Highland County)

Jim Newland (Ridgeway, Hardin County)

David Gaffney (Bloomingdale, Jefferson County)

Ohio Fire Prevention Educator of the Year

Melissa Gammell (Stow, Summit County)

Ohio Fire Service Instructor of the Year

Douglas Robinson (University Heights, Cuyahoga County)

Ohio Fire Officer of the Year

Kevin Joseph Watts (Whitehall, Franklin County)

Ohio Fire Department of the Year

Colerain Township Fire and EMS (Cincinnati, Hamilton County)

Justin Thompson, Ford Amsbaugh, Kevin Jarvis, and Ronnie Smith, of Thompson Asphalt, will receive the Ohio Fire Citizen's Award for their actions following a home explosion in Crestline (Richland County) in September 2024. The four men were working when they heard a nearby explosion, followed by smoke rising above the neighborhood. They quickly jumped into action and headed toward what was left of the home, using their water truck to battle the flames. This provided crucial extra seconds until the Springfield Township Fire Department arrived to take over fire suppression efforts. After the fire was partially contained, the four individuals joined firefighters in their mission to find and rescue a victim who was trapped in the debris.

Ohio Fire Service Citizen's Award recipients Bill Hershberger of Marshallville and Karl Mounts of Akron will be honored for their bravery and selflessness when they freed the driver of a dump truck that had overturned and caught fire on I-77 in Bath Township in July 2024. Despite having no protective equipment, they dug through gravel and fought against a heavy tarp covering the truck's load to reach the injured driver and pull him to safety before emergency personnel arrived.

Fire Service Valor Award recipient Travis Birch will be recognized for rescuing a woman from her burning Vienna Township home in July 2024. Birch was at home when he overheard an emergency call about a house fire located just two miles away. Despite having no protective equipment, he took immediate action, breaking through a glass door of the burning home and pulling the injured woman to safety, where she could be treated.

Medina Fire Department Chief Larry Walters will be recognized with the Fire Service Valor Award for rescuing a woman who was trapped inside the basement of her burning home in October 2024. Walters climbed through a window into the smoke-filled basement to rescue the woman by lifting her through the window opening to safety so first responders could provide treatment. Walters, who did not have protective equipment, sustained minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.

Youngstown firefighters Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs, and Joseph Koziel have been selected to receive the Fire Service Valor Award for their heroic actions following an explosion at a 14-story building in downtown Youngstown in May 2024. Amid significant destruction, the three individuals risked their lives to initiate daring rescue efforts and save the lives of others. Their efforts reflect the core values of the fire service: courage, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to protect and serve.

Brian Peterman of Wooster will receive the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award. The award will recognize his 40-plus year career and the profound influence he has had on Ohio's fire service through his leadership, mentorship and commitment to fire safety.

With a career in the fire service spanning more than four decades, Paul Wright will receive the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award. He began his service in 1978 with the Montgomery Community Fire Company, where he now serves as the chief. Wright's 45-year career is marked by exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment, and profound contributions to the fire service at both the local and national levels. He has served as the president of the Ohio Fire Chief's Association and currently chairs the Ohio Fire and Emergency Services Foundation.

David Young will receive the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award. Since joining the Sardinia Volunteer Fire Department in 1974, he has been a steadfast presence and a vital contributor to its growth, evolution, and success. As assistant chief, Young played a pivotal role in the formation of the Eastern Joint Fire and EMS District. Young's nearly 50 years of selfless service stands as an enduring legacy of what it means to give back to one's community.

Jim Newland, who will be recognized with the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award, has dedicated over 20 years to the fire service, devoting his career to protecting others. In addition to serving as the fire chief of the Ridgeway Fire Department, Newland has made it his personal mission to honor the legacy of fallen first responders, attending their funerals and presenting their loved ones with American flags.

David Gaffney will receive the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award. His extraordinary career in the fire service spans over 50 years and stands as a testament to selflessness, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to helping others. In his 15 years as chief of the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire, the department experienced tremendous growth and transformation including the construction of a new fire station, the acquisition of the department's first new fire truck in decades, and the implementation of a first responder program that eventually grew into an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance.

Ohio Fire Prevention Educator of the Year recipient Melissa Gammell will be recognized for her work and dedication to fire safety education. Throughout her six years with the Stow Fire Department, Gammell's innovative fire safety programs have helped save lives, inspire action, and foster a culture of safety and prevention for individuals of all ages.

This year's recipient of the Fire Instructor of the Year Award is Douglas Robinson with the University Heights Fire Department. Since becoming the department's training officer in 2018, Robinson has set the standard for excellence in firefighter education and operational readiness. This includes the design and implementation of groundbreaking training programs that ensure new recruits and officers are thoroughly prepared to respond to any incident.

The Ohio Fire Officer of the Year Award will be awarded to Kevin Watts, who serves with the Whitehall Division of Fire. Since joining the department in 2019, Watts has developed a reputation as a tireless advocate for mental health and safety, earning admiration for his visionary initiatives and transformative leadership. Among his many contributions is his creation of The Phoenix Project, an annual symposium and fundraising effort that has raised $45,000 for Ohio-based suicide prevention non-profit organizations.

The Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS will be recognized as the Fire Department of the Year. The department's outstanding effort in education and training, both within the department and across the region, highlights its dedication to innovation and service to the community. CTFE has been committed to improving safety and efficiency by expanding joint training with regional partners and externally, has fostered deep connections within the community.

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About the Division of State Fire Marshal

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.