By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Senior Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Executive Director Ron Siarnicki was honored for his achievements in the fire service at FDIC on Thursday.
Chief Siarnicki was given the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize his efforts in reducing line-of-duty deaths.
“Whenever one of America’s bravest falls in the line of duty, Ron Siarnicki responds,” Fire Engineering Editor-in-Chief Bobby Halton said during the presentation.
Chief Siarnicki began his career as a firefighter with the Prince George’s County, Md., Fire/EMS Department in 1978 and with 24 years of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services operational experience, he progressed through the ranks to chief of the department. In 1991, he retired and became the executive director of the newly-formed NFFF.
Accepting the award, Chief Siarnicki used the opportunity to reveal that the names of military firefighters killed while engaged in firefighting operations will be added annually to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, beginning at this year’s service in October.
The names of 12 fallen military firefighters will also be added retrospectively, dating back to 1981, Chief Siarnicki told the audience.
“From this day forward, any military firefighter meeting the criteria will be added in the same fashion as any of their civilian brothers and sisters,” he said.
During his acceptance speech, Chief Siarnicki said he was “truly humbled” to be named among the great leaders of the fire service. “Today is a day I will not soon forget,” he said.
“I would never have thought that my efforts to be a good firefighter, a good fire chief and most importantly a good steward of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation would have ever brought me to this point in my life, but it has and for that I am deeply grateful to everyone who has made it possible.”
Ahead of the presentation, Chief Halton read testimonies from other fire service leaders paying tribute to Chief Sianicki’s achievements.
FirefighterCloseCalls’ Chief Billy Goldfeder praised his work in “helping to train firefighters in what are necessary risks and what are not.”
NFFF Chairman Dennis Compton said Chief Siarnicki has helped to create a legacy with his work.
“Chief Siarnicki’s passion and commitment to making the foundation more effective is evident in everything he does,” he said.
Chief Siarnicki played a lead role in creating the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives as part of the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home program.
He told the FDIC audience that the Initiatives can make the fire service a better and safer place.
“If we can prevent one single firefighter fatality from occurring, then our mission is validated,” he said.