Vancouver Fire Department honors 36 with awards at annual ceremony

VANCOUVER - On March 11, the Vancouver Fire Department recognized firefighters, city employees and community members for acts of courage, lifesaving care and outstanding service during its annual Vancouver Fire Awards ceremony.

"These awards recognize moments when people chose to act, often in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances," said Fire Chief John "JD" Drake. "Whether it's a firefighter entering cold water to rescue someone, a citizen helping a stranger or a team working through the night during a major incident, these actions reflect the courage, skill and commitment that help keep Vancouver safe."

The department's highest honor, the Medal of Valor, was awarded to firefighter/paramedic Jennifer English for her role in a dramatic water rescue at Lacamas Lake in May 2025.

English entered cold, murky water with little visibility to search for a drowning victim. Despite entanglement hazards, she made several rapid free dives. On her fourth dive, she located the victim, brought him to the surface and swam him to shore so crews could begin advanced medical care. Her decisive actions and technical rescue skills gave the victim the best possible chance of survival.

A total of 36 awards across several categories were presented to firefighters, city employees and community members.

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