Several firefighters were recognized during the DeLand Fire Department's annual awards.

The top honor of the year went to Morgan Fambrough, who was named Firefighter of the Year. Justin Pacifico was the recipient of the Chief Hanes Pride and Ownership Award; Travis Sawyer was awarded the Meritorious Conduct Medal; Deputy Chief Justin Desy, Lieutenant Justin Bass and Firefighter Christian Vallejo received the Distinguished Service Medal for conducting high water rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Several other firefighters received unit commendations for their professionalism and bravery during responses to notable events in 2024.

“The dedication and bravery demonstrated by our firefighters each day does not go unnoticed,” said DeLand Fire Chief Todd Allen. “Our annual awards gives us the opportunity to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their service to our community. Their commitment to excellence and selflessness embodies the very best of the DeLand Fire Department.”

Firefighter of the Year: Morgan Fambrough

Morgan joined the department in 2022 and has proven to be an asset. She always has a positive attitude and she is constantly involved with department events/programs and enjoys assisting with public education events or celebrations that the City puts on.

Firefighter Fambrough is a valued member of the DeLand Fire Department Honor Guard and has attended the Jacksonville Pipe and Drum Academy as well as the Honor Guard Academy at the Florida State Fire College. As a member of the honor guard, Morgan has participated in multiple details throughout the year from Parachutes for Patriots, the VFW Ceremony and the DeLand Dog Parade. She has also represented the department Honor Guard at service related funerals for Jacob Bridger, Luke Kimming, and Matt Fair.

Morgan has also sung the National Anthem at multiple events to include- First Responder’s Night at Stetson University, the opening ceremony at the Florida Professional Firefighters Conference, Daytona State Colleges Fire Academy graduation and the Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. In November of 2024, she was asked to sing the National Anthem at the annual Florida fallen firefighter memorial. She performed flawlessly for the memorial that honored thirteen fallen firefighters and the family members that were in attendance. Firefighter Fambrough is also in the prosses of learning to play the bagpipes so that she can participate with the departments pipe and drum band.

This year, Morgan completed her paramedic training, passed the National Registry examination and is currently clearing to be a lead paramedic. Firefighter Fambrough has also completed Fire Service Hydraulics, Pump Operations, Aerial Operations and is in the process of finishing her Relief Driver packet. She continues to expand her knowledge in technical rescue and has completed VMR Operations, Rope Rescue Technician and is scheduled to attend Confined Space Rescue Technician and Trench Rescue Technician courses in the coming months. 

Firefighter Fambrough truly encompasses what it is to be a DeLand Firefighter. Her positive attitude, willingness to do anything that is asked of her, and her ability to connect with the citizens of DeLand both on scene and at public events are just a few reasons why Morgan is the Firefighter of the Year for 2024.

Chief Hanes Pride and Ownership Award: Firefighter Justin Pacifico

 Throughout his time with DeLand Fire Department, FF Pacifico has been an asset to any crew he has been a part of.  It’s safe to say that Justin is “into the job”. 

In the past year, Firefighter Pacifico completed numerous classes including technician level training for Confined Space Rescue, Rope Rescue, Trench Rescue and Structural Collapse. His desire to train and better himself led him to complete Truck Company Operations, “One Bad Tour” which is a continuous 24 hours class and also place #1 out of 135 candidates in the Florida State Fire College’s Smoke Diver selection process.

Firefighter Pacifico has also helped tremendously with new hire orientation and is always willing to share his knowledge with members of the DFD and surrounding departments. 

Firefighter Pacifico is willing to do anything that needs to be done without being asked, and it’s obvious that he not only cares about his brothers and sisters in the department, but also the citizens of DeLand. His Pride and Ownership to the firefighting profession keeps with highest traditions of the fire service and the City of DeLand Fire Department.

Meritorious Conduct Medal: Travis Sawyer

On May 22, 2024 the fire service in Volusia County was saddened to find that one of our brothers had taken his life. Jacob Bridger, a South Daytona firefighter, was only 22 years old. His ties to the City of DeLand Fire Department were numerous. Many of our members instructed him during his time in the fire standards program at Daytona State College, his father David Bridger (a lieutenant with Holly Hill Fire Department) also teaches alongside our instructors at the academy, and Jacob had previously applied with the DeLand Fire Department, but withdrew his application after being offered a job with the City of South Daytona.

Upon learning of his death, Chief Allen reached out to Chief John Brandt of South Daytona to offer condolences and the DFD’s help with any, or all portions of Jacob’s funeral service; Chief Brandt accepted this offer. Engineer Travis Sawyer, the DFD Honor Guard Commander, immediately acted to handle the planning of the service as well as coordinating the involvement of local honor guard teams. It’s also important to note that Travis had an emotional tie to the Bridger family having previously worked with Jacob’s father while he was a member of the Holly Hill Fire Department before joining the ranks of the DFD.

As one can imagine, the grief that South Daytona Fire Department was dealing with was considerable, and planning a service during this time would inhibit their ability to properly grieve the loss of Jacob. Travis met with Chief Brandt and the funeral home director regularly and put together a plan to properly remember our fallen brother. Travis was able to coordinate honor guard teams from the cities of Deltona, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach and personnel from the Florida Pipes and Drums. Travis was instrumental in providing Chief Brandt and the Bridger family with information regarding firefighter funerals and the traditions that are involved. Due to this, the firefighting community was able to honor the life of FF Bridger in a way that he, and the Bridger family deserved. Engineer Sawyer acted in a highly commendable manner in the performance of his duties as Honor Guard Commander of the DeLand Fire Department and is deserving of the Meritorious Conduct Medal. 

Distinguished Service Medal: Deputy Chief Justin Desy, Lieutenant Justin Bass, Firefighter Christian Vallejo

On October 9th and 10th, Hurricane Milton caused devastating damage to the State of Florida with powerful winds, heavy storm surges and intense rain bands. During the early morning hours of October 10th, the City of DeLand received concentrated rains that measured 20” over a 24-hour period in certain parts of DeLand. Around 7 am, the city’s EOC began to get reports of rising water in various areas of the city. The DeLand Police and Fire Departments began responding to these areas of need and reporting the situation back to the EOC. The EOC began getting multiple reports of homes underwater in the Glen Eagles neighborhood, as a retention pond had overfilled from the record rains and began spilling into that neighborhood. People could not escape in time and were consequently trapped in their homes- even retreating to their attic spaces to escape the rising waters.

With little time to spare, our fire and police officers quickly assembled and began trekking through the high waters to get to the trapped citizens. Keep in mind, the water was chin-deep on these gentlemen and they did their best to keep their feet on solid ground and utilize poles to feel for underwater holes and hazards. At risk to themselves, the coordinated effort between the firefighters and police officers rescued 14 individuals from these rising waters.

For this reason, these firefighters are receiving the Distinguished Service Medal!

Unit Commendation: Lieutenant Chris Murray, Firefighters James Young and Morgan Fambrough

On May 2nd, 2024, DFD was dispatched for a reported plane crash in the area of Carter Road and Highway 11. Lieutenant Chris Murray and Firefighters James Young and Morgan Fambrough responded from Station 82. When they arrived on scene they located the plane nose down, heavily damaged and in a cow pasture approximately 200 yards off the roadway. Due to the distance from the roadway, the crew had to decide what equipment they thought would be needed and carry it through the pasture in full bunker gear. Once they arrived at the plane, it was apparent that the pilot was entrapped in the wreckage and badly injured.

Lt. Murray quickly established command while his crew began working to extricate the patient. While the elderly pilot was semi-conscious, he had multiple broken bones and significant lacerations. The crew was able to cut and pull enough of the plane away to perform a rapid extrication and place the pilot onto a long backboard. He was then loaded into the bed of a VCSO pickup truck and driven to the waiting med unit before being transported as a trauma alert by Air Care to Halifax. Due to their quick response, and extrication, the pilot was in critical but stable condition and ultimately survived the crash. 

This group of firefighters acted in a highly commendable manner that upholds the highest traditions of the fire service and the DeLand Fire Department. 

Unit Commendation: Lieutenant Justin Bass, Engineer Randy Bruce, Firefighters Trent Sanders, Jake Pequignot, Joshua Brown and Christian Vallejo

On April 28th, 2024, DFD units were dispatched for a reported structure fire at 703 West Beresford Ave. Units arrived to find on scene to find a small residential structure with smoke issuing from a window. Personnel quickly went to work once they arrived on scene. The crew from Tower 81 forced entry ahead of Squad 81 who was stretching a hose line to the front door. Upon making entry crews encountered heavy smoke and heat. Crews prioritized a primary search and located an unconscious occupant in the front bedroom. The occupant was quickly removed to the outside of the structure. Once outside, crews determined the patient was pulseless and apneic. CPR was initiated and ROSC was achieved twice while on scene before the victim was transported to Advent Health DeLand. Unfortunately, the occupant of the home passed away later that evening. The dedication to their craft, and cohesiveness, gave the occupant the highest chance of survival. 

This group of firefighters acted in a highly commendable manner that upholds the highest traditions of the fire service and the DeLand Fire Department.