Beech Tree News Network

Firefighters in Butler County will be recognized throughout the month of May following a signing Wednesday, May 1, by Judge-Executive Timothy Flener in honor of International Firefighters’ Day on Saturday, May 4.

International Firefighters’ Day takes place annually on the first Saturday in May. It was started in 1999 in Australia by firefighter J.J. Edmondson following the deaths of five volunteers fighting a wildfire and has since been adopted in communities around the world. This is the second year Butler County will be observing IFFD.

Special Proclamations were signed for each fire department in the county and will be delivered to the members at their May meetings. Volunteer Fire Departments in the county are: Morgantown, Second District, Rochester, Fourth District and Fifth District.

Members of the Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department were presented at their monthly meeting May 2 a Proclamation signed by Butler County Judge-Executive Tim Flener. The Proclamation recognizes the service of the Morgantown VFD firefighters as part of International Firefighters Day observed on May 4 and throughout the month. Shown are, left to right: Ronnie Givens, Bekah Beliles, Shane Norris, Chief Brian Hope, Tye Forshee, Ethan Bratcher, Wayne Johnson, Stevie Givens, Nathan Whittinghill and Isaac Nesmith.

Givens and Deborah Rose Worley, both former members of the Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department, are working as representatives of the Butler County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to research the history of volunteer firefighters and departments in the county with the goal of identifying and recognizing former and current members for their service.