Several members of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services have been the recipients of awards from local, regional and national organizations. Captain Steve Folden, the department’s EMS Educator and Training Officer was recognized as the 2006 Firefighter/Paramedic of the Year by Fayetteville’s American Legion Post # 105. The award given annually to members of local public safety departments recognized Capt. Folden for his public safety contributions as well as his personal commitment to the community through his volunteer work with Angel Flight and the senior citizens of the area. Captain Folden was also recognized by the Georgia Region IV EMS Council at its annual awards banquet on April 20th as the Region IV EMS Educator of the Year. Captain Folden holds numerous training certifications in both basic and advanced life support and serves on several regional and state EMS training committees.
Captain Folden receiving his award
Chief Jack J. Krakeel, Director of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services has been selected as the national recipient of the 2006 James O. Page Award given annually by the Emergency Medical Services Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and co-sponsored by Medtronic Corporation. The James O. Page award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a key role in creating and/or promoting non-clinical innovation and achievements in fire-based EMS management and leadership that has had a positive impact nationally. The award is named in honor of James O. Page who has been a visionary and a national leader in fire service EMS for more than three decades. Chief Krakeel accepted the prestigious award accompanied by his wife and son during the opening ceremonies of the IAFC Fire-Rescue-Med Conference in Las Vegas, NV this month. This award marks the second time in recent years that Chief Krakeel has been recognized nationally for his leadership. In 1999 he was selected as the national “Fire Chief of the Year” by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, an award co-sponsored by Fire Chief Magazine.
IAFC Section Chair John Sinclair presents the 2006 James O. Page Award to Chief Jack J. Krakeel
Chief Jack J. Krakeel was also honored by the Region IV EMS Council at its April awards banquet with the EMS Pioneer Award. The award recognized Chief Krakeel for his service to Emergency Medical Services in Region IV spanning the last 2 decades. During this time, he served as the Region’s representative to the State of Georgia Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council for more than 15 years.