"L to R: Leadership & Guidance Award - Captain Ryan Dawson, Junior Firefighter of the Year - Junior Firefighter Ashton Dawson, Partners in Protection Award - Chaplain Chris Truett, Firefighter of the Year - Past Chief Danny Smith, Sr., Engineer of the Year Award - Chief Brian Wade, Training Award - Battalion Chief Jordan Craven, Rookie of the Year - Firefighter Tony Gautier, Chief's Award - Captain Chris Decker"

The North Lenoir Fire & Rescue Annual Banquet was held at Falling Creek Country Club in Kinston, NC on Saturday, January 28, 2023. Members and their families gathered for a night of fellowship, celebration and recognition.

In 2022, members of North Lenoir Fire & Rescue answered more than 440 calls for service and acquired more than 7,971 hours of training as a department with approximately 50 volunteers.

Annual awards were presented to the following:

Junior Firefighter of the Year Award - Ashton Dawson

Rookie of the Year Award - Tony Gautier

Wright Nobles, Jr. Engineer of the Year Award - Brian Wade

Aaron "Broom" Wade, Jr. Training Award - Jordan Craven

Leadership & Guidance Award - Ryan Dawson

Partners in Protection Award - Chris Truett

Chief's Award - Chris Decker

President's Award - All 2022 Line Officers (Chief Brian Wade, Deputy Chief Danny Smith, Jr., Assistant Chief Brandon Ward, Battalion Chief Lynn Wiley, Battalion Chief Jordan Craven, Captain Garrett Jones, Captain Clay Dunn, Captain, Billy Youssef, Captain, Ryan Dawson, Captain William Langley, Captain Chris Decker, Lieutenant Josh Jarman, Safety Officer Danny Smith, Sr.)

Firefighter of the Year - Danny Smith, Sr.

Several members were recognized for completing North Carolina State Certifications in various disciplines over the past year:

NC Firefighter Certification

Ryan Dawson

Andrew Fair

Landon Moore

NC Rapid Intervention Crew Certification

Steven Miller

NC Driver Operator Pumps Certification

Trey Barnes

Nick Bishop

Brandon Ward

NC Driver Operator Mobile Water Supply Certification

Trey Barnes

Nick Bishop

NC Driver Operator Aerials Certification

Nick Bishop

Ryan Dawson

Clay Dunn

Franklin Floyd

Garrett Jones

Danny Smith, Jr.

Danny Smith, Sr.

Brandon Ward

Basic Wildland Fire Suppression Certification

Chris Decker

Brian Wade

Brandon Ward

NC Fire Instructor II Certification

Chris Decker

NC Fire Officer II Certification

Chris Decker

In addition, two members completed Instructor Qualifications:

Jordan Craven, Driver Operator Pumps and Driver Operator Aerials Instructor

Brandon Ward, Firefighter Instructor

The following members were recognized as the top 10 for call response:

Brandon Ward - 404 calls

Danny Smith Sr. - 315 calls

Brian Wade - 313 calls

Danny Smith Jr. - 277 calls

Zack Jenkins - 258 calls

Ryan Dawson - 226 calls

Clay Dunn - 195 calls

Andrew Fair - 194 calls

Billy Youssef - 185 calls

Tony Gautier - 172 calls

The following members were recognized as the top 10 for number of training hours:

Ryan Dawson - 624

Andrew Fair - 545

Brian Wade - 532

Brandon Ward - 478.5

Landon Moore - 465.5

Greg Knowles - 307.5

Nathan Howell - 298

Tyler Moore - 294.5

Ashton Dawson - 260

Chris Decker - 252.5