The Princeton Fire Department’s top responding volunteers were honored by Princeton Council for their dedication at its meeting earlier this month.
Princeton Councilman Tim Quinn, who is the council’s fire commissioner or liaison to the Princeton Fire Department, praised the six volunteers – three who are “regular” members and three who belong to the “associate” program at the May 6 meeting.
A seventh volunteer who is a member of the Princeton Fire Department’s fire police unit also was recognized for his dedication. The fire police, all of whom are volunteer firefighters, assist the Princeton Fire Department at an incident.
The all-volunteer Princeton Fire Department, which is made up of Princeton Hook & Ladder Co., Princeton Engine Co. No. 1 and Mercer Engine Co. No. 3, responded to 723 calls in 2018.
Princeton Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief T.R. Johnson said the three regular members of the Princeton Fire Department “went above duty nights and training and answering calls in the middle of the night.”
Johnson asked the three regular volunteer firefighters to step forward – Ziad Ayari, who responded to 261 calls for help; Keith Wadsworth, who answered 239 calls; and Dev Zaveri, who went out on 182 calls. The regular volunteers respond around the clock, every day of the year.
Then, Johnson asked the top three responding “associate” members to come up to the front of the Princeton Council meeting room – Kevin Durham, who answered 114 calls; Chris Shannon, who went on 111 calls; and Michael Kevan, who responded to 60 calls.
The associate volunteer firefighters belong to the Princeton Fire Department’s associates program, which calls on Princeton University staff to occasionally double as firefighters – all of who are state-certified volunteer firefighters. They respond to calls weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Finally, Doug Davis was honored as the top responder in the Princeton Fire Department’s fire police unit. Princeton Fire Police Capt. William Shields said Davis responded to more than 100 calls, and called him a “big asset” to the fire police.
While the Princeton Council is moving ahead with plans to hire a handful of career firefighters to supplement the volunteer firefighters’ ranks, Quinn said “there is no better time than now” to honor the volunteers. He said he would like to see the ceremony become an annual event.
“I can’t say enough to the volunteers,” Quinn said. They are part of a proud legacy that dates to 1788, when the Princeton Fire Company – the fire department’s initial name – was formed, he said.
While there are some people who claim that hiring career or paid firefighters means the end of the all-volunteer fire department, “that is not the case,” Quinn said.
Quinn pointed to the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, which has a mix of paid and volunteer emergency medical technicians.