Three firefighters from Mountlake Terrace Fire Station 19 were honored by Snohomish County Fire District 1 earlier this week for rescue efforts they made during the April 16 two-alarm fire at the Taluswood Apartments in Mountlake Terrace.

Captain Chuck Maddox and firefighters Steve Barnes and Steve Varden were presented with The Chief’s Medal of Merit for “outstanding firefighting skills” in the rescue of Ruben Villegas from a third-story balcony of a smoke-filled apartment while flames engulfed adjacent units.

The Fire District 1 ceremony held Nov. 5 honored numerous employees for extraordinary accomplishments. Here is the list of other honorees:

Firefighter/Paramedic Karl Fitterer, from Hilltop Fire Station 22, was named Employee of the Year for outstanding customer service and his work in paramedic education

Captain Dave Herbert, from the Training Division, received the Robert Morehouse Legacy Award for 27 years of service

Andrew Morford, a Fire District 1 volunteer, received the Meyer-Mahoney Award for his service to the public and his planning and preparation of community events

Captain John Chalfant and firefighters Andrew Heller and Steve Francis, from Mariner Fire Station 11, received a Chief’s Medal of Merit for rescuing two people from a smoke-filled Everett apartment on April 16

Captain Dave Ruddell and firefighters Gary Westerman and Brent Allen, from Martha Lake Fire Station 12, received a Chief’s Medal of Merit for rescuing a 12-year-old boy from Martha Lake on August 6

Captains James Curtis and Kyle Wiggins were awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their leadership and work on a program to develop pre-fire plans for commercial buildings

Service Awards were presented to the following employees in recognition of career milestones and years of service:
Retirees: Gary Hood, Capt. Larry McEwen, Jeff Sarchin and Steve Wheeler
10 years: Melissa Beard, Jon Dickinson, Capt. JJ Dowling, Clayton Smith and David Stevens
15 years: Eric Anderson, Capt. James Curtis, Capt. Richard Duncan, Kevin Fetter, Scott Hamilton, Leslie Hynes and Capt. Dennis Lunny
20 years: Eric Dyer, Capt. Brett Kuhn and Justin Steinbach
25 years: Capt. Joel Woods
26 years: Capt. Jim Grieco, Battalion Chief Gary Kestle, Jim Martin, Jeff Sarchin and Tom Seltz
28 years: Randal Hills, Capt. Skip Horne, Capt. Darrin Kelly, Capt. Gren Legge and Capt. Paul Rice
29 years: Capt. Bruce Davis, Mike Fischer, Capt. Dave Herbert and Capt. Mike Read
31 years: Kim Schroeder
32 years: Battalion Chief Steve Allison, Capt. George Boling and Fire Chief Ed Widdis
33 years: Assistant Chief Brad Reading, Steve Francis, John Giddings, Battalion Chief Pat Hepler, Capt. Dennis Oftedahl, Battalion Chief Scott Schroeder, Gary Westerman and Capt. Greg Westerman
34 years: Kurt McEnroe, Capt. Michael J. Smith and Jack Weinz
35 years: Capt. Brent Chomos, Steve Lindsay and Battalion Chief Jerry Sheehan
37 years: Capt. Tom Delisle

Fire District 1 provides fire and emergency medical services in Mountlake Terrace and neighboring communities, including unincorporated south Snohomish County, Brier, Edmonds and Woodway.