The Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department recently received two 2011 Regional Awards for Outstanding Contributions to EMS. The seventh annual Western Virginia EMS Council awards were presented during a June awards banquet held at the Salem Civic Center.
The Western Virginia EMS Council Awards were established in 2004 as a formal recognition of outstanding contributions to EMS in the Western Region of Virginia. Nominees are carefully reviewed and selected by the Awards Selection Committee made up of the 2010 regional award winners. The awards are presented annually to recipients in ten categories. The winners in the ten categories from the 11 EMS regions of the Commonwealth will move on to be considered for the 2011 Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to EMS in Virginia.
Roanoke County Fire & Rescue received the following Regional Awards this year:
Division Chief Steve Simon was selected for the Regional Award- Excellence In EMS (the highest honor awarded by the council) for his dedication to improving the Emergency Medical Care System at the local, state and national levels. Chief Simon started his Fire/EMS career in 1986 in Prince William County then moved to the Roanoke area in 1992 after accepting a job with Roanoke City as a paramedic. In 1994 Chief Simon was hired by the Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department as a paramedic/firefighter and moved up the ranks to his currently held position as Division Chief. Chief Simon has been involved with countless EMS initiatives and programs that have directly helped improve the quality of EMS in Roanoke County and throughout the Commonwealth.
Battalion Chief William “Bill” Duff was selected as the Outstanding EMS Administrator by the Western Virginia EMS Council. Chief Duff began his career in EMS as a 16 year old with the Cave Spring Volunteer First Aid Crew in 1981. Chief Duff served with the Cave Spring Volunteer First Aid Crew for seven years and became a life member; today he still participates in fund raising events for the crew. In 1986 the County of Roanoke set out to hire its first paramedic/firefighters. Chief Duff was the youngest to be hired in the first group of five.
Since 1986, Chief Duff has strived to provide the best quality of care to patients and helping hands to the community. Chief Duff has worked diligently to become an excellent EMS provider and is always researching and looking for the most up to date medical advancements for pre-hospital providers. Chief Duff has served as a mentor to numerous newly certified BLS & ALS providers. He now serves the County of Roanoke as the Battalion Chief of EMS.
Chief Duff also works with the volunteer organizations throughout the County and the Western Region of Virginia. He is well recognized within the EMS community and has had a positive impact in developing programs that can be used throughout the region. He has been passionate about successfully developing programs in pediatric transportation and school bus emergencies.
Chief Simon and Chief Duff were recognized by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday.
