Back in October, a woman was hit by a vehicle in Alexander, and the injuries were serious.
Two Alexander firefighters arrived quickly on scene, along with EMS Captain Ryan Hinz.
Hinz said he knew it was bad as soon as he arrived on the scene, but it turned out the firefighters, not necessarily trained as medics, were able to step in and assist.
The firefighters were Paul Hirsch and Patrick Pietrzykowski.
"And I've got to give a ton of credit to these two guys because, by the time the engine got there, we had done everything we could to the point where, when the ambulance pulled up for Mercy (EMS), we put her in, and they were going," Hinz said. "These two guys gave her the best possible chance that they could have."
Hinz awarded Hirsch and Pietrzykowski certificates of appreciation for their efforts at Saturday's installation and awards banquet for the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department.
Other awards that night included firefighter of the year and the chief's award. Tim Yaeger, Genesee County's emergency management coordinator, also administered the oath of office to the 2023 officers for Alexander.
The department also held a short service to honor firefighters who have departed.
2023 Firematic Officers:
- Paul Hirsch, chief
- James Burkhardt, deputy chief
- Dean Hendershott, 1st assistant
- Sean McPhee, 2nd assistant
- Thomas Green, 3rd assistant
- Ryan Hinz, EMS captain
- Jenn McPhee, EMS lieutenant
- Anthony Johnson, truck captain
- Nicholas Yackeren, truck lieutenant
- Nathan Fix, training captain
- Matthew Pietrzykowski, training lieutenant
- Marshall Merle, safety officer
- John Meier, parade chairman
- Heidi Richmond, parade co-chairman
Service awards:
25-year members: Thomas Lowe and Tammy Kreutter
Social:
- Brian Anderson - social - 50 years
- James Bouton - social - 50 years
- George Buckenmeyer - social - 70 years
- David Feary Jr - active until 1991 - 40 years
- Charles Hirsch - active until 1997 - 40 years
- Arnold Kirch - active until 1991 - 60 years
- Myron Kirch - active until 1991 - 60 years
Active:
- Martin Hinz - active - 40 years
- William Hirsch Sr. - active - 60 years
- Ralph Robbins - active - 50 years
Ryan Hinz was named Firefighter of the Year
Anthony Johnston received the Chief's Award from retiring chief Marshall Merle for 2022.
The department did not hold an installation and awards dinner in 2022, so Nicholas Yackeren received a belated Chief's Award for 2021.
