The Shadow
Covington firefighters recognized a fellow member’s long-standing service to their department, remembered one of their own and celebrated their accomplishments Saturday evening during the 118th annual Covington Fire Department banquet and meeting, held in Wolfe Hall at Station 1 on Hawthorne Street in downtown Covington.
Firefighter Danny Milton was presented the department’s highest honor, the Fred C. Jesser Memorial Award for his 40-year career as a Covington firefighter.
The award was created in 2012 to recognize a Covington firefighter for long-term service to the department and to the city of Covington.
Named in memory of the department’s first Fire Chief Fred C. Jesser, the award pays tribute to a firefighter who “epitomizes the spirit of the department’s first chief.”
Jesser served as chief beginning with the department’s organization on March 4, 1902.
Jesser served two stints as Covington’s fire chief, holding the office at the time of his death in?May, 1938.
Milton joined the department on Jan. 12, 1979, and has held numerous committee assignments and roles within the department during his tenure as a Covington firefighter.
He currently serves the department as a member of the Relief Committee.
Prior to the dinner, Chaplain Wes Walker conducted a memorial service for Covington firefighters who have died in years past and those who have died during the past year.
Retired firefighter Curtis Craft was remembered during the memorial service and, following the memorial service, Craft’s widow Denise was presented his badge and name plate which were encased in a box as a memento to her late husband.
Making the presentation were Walker, Chief Andrew Baker, First Assistant Chief Al Fox and Vice President Clyde Selman.
Craft joined the department on Sept. 25, 2003, and retired due to health reasons on Nov. 10, 2016.
He died Nov. 21, 2019.
During his annual activity report, Chief Andrew Baker gave an overview of the department’s activities during 2019.
For the year, the department responded to 284 calls for service, which included 132 calls in the city of Covington and 126 in Alleghany County.
The department traveled 958 miles in the city during 2019 and provided 679 manhours.
Responding to calls in Alleghany County, the department traveled 2,689 miles and contributed 1,145 manhours.
Of the calls received, 17 were structure-related; 11 vehicle fires; 79 motor vehicle accidents; 9 grass-brush fires; 43 miscellaneous calls; 34 false alarms; 77 mutual calls, including calls to assist the Covington Rescue Squad, and 14 hazardous materials calls.
The structure fires in the department’s first-due coverage area recorded a total property and content value of $417,000, with an estimated loss of $73,000 due to fire damage.
Top 10 call responders for 2019 included Wes Walker, 173 calls; Katie Smith, 141; Tim Yancey, 116; Kevin Pettitt, 104; Shane Byer and Ross Helmintoller, 101; Al Fox, 99; Andrew Baker and C.W. Smith, 97; Danny Milton, 87; Jeff Bowles, 87, and Will Atkins, 73.
During the year, the department conducted 60 hours of in-house training, along with providing 10 fire prevention classes, where 410 children and adults received the department’s fire prevention message and training.
Covington Mayor Tom Sibold sworn in new officers for 2020-2022.
Those officers include:
Social Officers — President Petey Gibson, Vice President Clyde Selman, Secretary Mike Griffith, Treasurer David Crosier, Quartermaster C.W. Smith, Chaplain Wes Walker, Legal Advisor Mike?Collins and Relief Committee C.J. Entsminger, Danny Milton, Greg Burton, Howard Thompson and Jeff Horn.
Working Officers — Chief Andrew Baker, First Assistant Chief Al Fox, Second Assistant Chief Brad Hicks, Captain No. 1 Ross Helmintoller, Captain No. 2 C.W. Smith, Captain No. 3 Ron Smith, Captain No. 4 Kevin?Carson, Lieutenant No. 1 Lucas May, Lieutenant No. 2 Colton Williams, Lieutenant No. 3 Will Atkins and Lieutenant No. 4 Kevin Pettitt.
Other members of the department include: David Horn, Andy Rickett, Darrell Sampson, Kim Vass, Shawn Selman, Shane Wright, Eddie Joe Entsminger, Shane Byer, Raymond Arrington, J.B. Bartley, Sara Baker, Nick Ginart, Will Jamison, Katie Smith, Brian McKinnell, Shane Markham, Marselino Gonzales, Tre Clark, Carl Legg, Brandon Ramsey, T.J. Smallwood and Wayne Myers.
Retired members of the department include: Harrison Scott, Roscoe Humphries, Larry Snead, Charlie Walker, Claude Hunter, Jerry Givens, Aaron Wooding, Robert Loving, Dennis Trainer, David Crosier, Bob McCallister, Richard Baker, Jeff Horn, Roy Markham, Shawn Douglas, Jerry Burks, Richard Tyree, B.J. R
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Covington firefighter Danny Milton, right, was presented the Fred C. Jesser Memorial Award Saturday night during the 118th annual banquet and meeting of the Covington Volunteer Fire Department. The award is the highest honor that can be presented to a Covington firefighter and is named after Fred C. Jesser, the department’s first chief from its organization on March 4, 1902. Jesser was also instrumental in the organization of the Covington Rescue Squad in 1933. Pictured, Covington Fire Chief Andrew Baker, left, presents Milton the award for his 40 years of service to the department. Milton joined the department on Jan. 12, 1979. (D.S. Crosier Photo)
