By Michael DeSumma
The Columbia-Richland Fire Department honored the work of its members at the department’s annual awards ceremony February 20.
Thirty-eight awards were presented during the event at C.A. Johnson High School. A majority of honors went to firefighters who went above and beyond the call of duty to save civilian lives over the course of 2025.
“It is my great pleasure to preside over this ceremony each year,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “Our members truly put their passions and dedication into their work each day to make a difference for the citizens we protect. These awards are a simple way that we can say ‘thank you’ to them for their diligence, persistence and sacrifice.”
All award honorees for the ceremony were nominated by members of the Columbia-Richland Fire Department. The CRFD Awards Committee, which is made of other personnel, carried out the task of reviewing nominations at the end of 2025 and ultimately selecting which members would receive awards.
Senior Firefighter Andrew Morris was awarded the Chief’s Cross. It is reserved for the fire chief of the department to recognize a member or some citizen for some outstanding achievement – within or outside the fire department – that causes a positive or dramatic change in the Columbia-Richland Fire Department.
The Green Cross award is given in recognition of a member who has made critical judgements and actions in performing life-preserving or life-resuscitative efforts for severely injured or ill patients.
Honoree are: Senior Firefighter Marcin Chrzanowski, Senior Firefighter Omar Flores Gill, Senior Firefighter Caleb Jacobs, Senior Firefighter Daniel Johnson, Senior Firefighter Andrew Morris, Engineer Connor Brown, Engineer John Mabie , Fire Captain Bobby Philips , Fire Captain Anthony Rembisz , Fire Captain Chad Solomon, Firefighter Clayton Alnor, Firefighter Darrin Diaz, Firefighter Justin Farr, Firefighter Michael Louis, Senior Firefighter Fredrick Reyes, Senior Firefighter William Young, Engineer Justin Epps, Engineer Gustavo Gonzalez, Engineer Matthew Ives, Engineer Logan Taber, Fire Captain Charles Baxter, Fire Captain Weston Jumper, Fire Captain Thomas Nichols Fire Captain Kenneth Warr
Formal Company/Division Citation is presented to recognize a company or division that overcame adverse conditions as a team to uphold the Columbia-Richland Fire Department’s mission.
For the events of March 12, 2025 during a motor vehicle accident with patient entrapment on I-126:
Rescue Co. 1
Fire Captain Christopher Byrd
Engineer Campbell Jacobs
Senior Firefighter Ryan Espling
Senior Firefighter Zachary Finch
Ladder Co. 7
Fire Captain Blake Cartee
Engineer Richard Shell
Senior Firefighter Cameron Ingram
Firefighter Taylor Crews
Engine Co. 1
Fire Captain Nicholas Branham
Engineer Nicholas Finley
Senior Firefighter Desiree Colon
Firefighter Cameron Jones
Engine Co. 6
Fire Captain Davis Taylor
Engineer Sean Stephens
Senior Firefighter Alexander Papalazarou
Firefighter Jackson Rish
The Phoenix Award is given to recognize an employee’s efforts in saving or freeing endangered firefighters or victims during a fire, vehicle entrapment, technical rescue, hazardous material (HAZMAT) incident or any other rescue situation.
Honorees are: Firefighter Andrew H. Morris, Senior Firefighter Ryan Espling, Senior Firefighter Caleb Jacobs, Senior Firefighter Robert McConnell, Engineer Connor Brown Engineer Campbell Jacobs, Engineer John Stulpin, Junior Fire Captain Bobby Philips, Fire Captain Davis Taylor.
