The Geneva Fire Department held its annual Awards Ceremony this past week, recognizing members for exceptional service, leadership, professionalism, and long-standing commitment to the department and the City of Geneva. The event also included a review of the department’s 2025 operational statistics, highlighting another year of dedicated service to the community.
Fire Chief Del J. Parrotta presented several Chief’s Awards recognizing outstanding individual contributions. Frank McGuigan received the Outstanding Achievement Award, Thomas Benjamin received the Outstanding Service Award, and Don McGuigan received the Outstanding Commitment Award in recognition of 33 years of outstanding commitment and dedicated service as Fire Commissioner.
The department also presented its Legacy Awards, which honor past Geneva fire chiefs whose leadership and values helped shape the department. Each Legacy Award is named in recognition of the qualities those chiefs represented and continues to reinforce those standards within today’s organization.
The 2025 Legacy Award recipients are:
- Michael A. Combs Professional Development Award — Nicole Wright
- Bruce Moore Spirit of Kindness Award — Carmen Martinez-Pirong
- Kevin Powers Lifetime Service Award — Ken Fulton (posthumously), accepted by family members Debbie, Jill and Jason Fulton, recognizing 55 years of service to the Hook & Ladder Company and 38 years as a career firefighter with the City of Geneva
- Ralph DeBolt Standards and Excellence Award — Deputy Chief Michael Bucklin
- Louis McGuigan Firefighter of the Year Award — Bill Millerd
- Carlton Nagele Officer of the Year Award — Assistant Chief Dan Gallagher
“These awards reflect the character, dedication, and professionalism that define the Geneva Fire Department,” said Fire Chief Del J. Parrotta. “By honoring the legacy of past chiefs, we also reinforce the values they instilled — values that continue to guide our department today.”
City Manager Amie Hendrix said she was extremely proud of the award recipients and the overall performance of the Geneva Fire Department, praising the department’s consistent service, professionalism, and commitment to the safety and well-being of the community.
Following the awards presentation, the evening continued with a review of the Geneva Fire Department’s 2025 operational statistics, highlighting emergency response activity, training hours, prevention efforts, and overall service delivery. The review underscored the department’s continued focus on readiness, accountability, and community protection.
In 2025, the department recorded 2,547 total runs, including 54 fire responses, 395 rescues and EMS calls, 798 code enforcement calls, 216 fire prevention details, and 38 mutual aid responses. Firefighters logged 10,215 training hours and 18,909 total personnel hours on scene. The department reported three cardiac arrest saves, 10 overdose reversals, and no loss of life from fire.
The Geneva Fire Department extended its congratulations to all award recipients and thanked city leadership, families, and community partners for their continued support.
