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By Mike Gervais
Register Staff
10-27-2009 Anyone who has been in a car accident or suffered through a house fire knows that it’s Inyo County’s first responders who sacrifice their time, sweat and blood to protect us all from harm.
With that in mind, Fourth District Supervisor Marty Forntey called three first responders to Tuesday’s board meeting to honor them for their service to their respective communities.
“We’re here today to honor the outstanding volunteer effort that these three individuals have put forth,” Fortney said.
The Board of Supervisors, along with the Inyo County Fire Chiefs Association, honored Bishop Volunteer Firefighter Larry Huffman as the 2009 Volunteer of the Year and Lloyd Wilson of the Big Pine Volunteers and B.J. Hayden of the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department as Emergency Medical Service providers of the year.
With local fire chiefs, fellow volunteers and proud family members looking on, the three honorees received framed resolutions from the board and a plaque from the Fire Chiefs Association recognizing their efforts.
According to Fortney, Huffman became interested in serving as a volunteer firefighter as a young boy who would accompany his father, who was also a volunteer, to the department.
Huffman began his career with the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department in 1957 and continues to answer the call whenever someone is in need.
“Larry also spent extra time at the Fire Station building and maintaining equipment, some of which is still in service today,” Fortney said.
Huffman was promoted to part-time assistant fire chief in 2000, and continues to serve in that capacity.
The board also recognized Big Pine Emergency Medical Technician Lloyd Wilson as the EMS Provider of the Year.
Wilson joined the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department in 1973 and has served as fire chief, assistant fire chief and captain of the ambulance.
“Lloyd Wilson, over the past 36 years, has served many roles, from firefighter to CPR instructor, receiving The Inyo Register’s Citizen of the Year Award in 1994 and The Inyo Register’s Unsung Heroes Award in 2008, as well as the Big Pine Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year Award in 2001,” Fortney said.
Wilson was also one of the first local volunteers to be certified as an EMT, with a certification number of 272.
Wilson continues to respond whenever needed and helps the volunteer fire department through his grant writing, which, in the past, has partially funded the purchase of new ambulances, fire engines and other equipment.
Last, but certainly not least, the board recognized B.J. Hayner as an EMS Provider of the Year.
Hayner joined the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Depart-ment’s ambulance service in 1979, and since that time has served in Southern Inyo, both day and night, whenever emergency medical attention was needed.
“B.J. was one of the very first local volunteers to be certified as an EMT, with an EMT certification number of 48, which makes her possibly the longest serving EMT volunteer in the county,” Fortney said.
While serving as an EMT on the Lone Pine Ambulance, Hayner has participating in numerous workshops, continuing her education classes and training courses, making her one of the most highly trained volunteers in Inyo County.
“B.J.’s continuing education courses include studies in updated emergency responses to national disasters, the art and science of patient assessments and bio-terrorism from an EMS perspective,” Fortney said.
“The Inyo County Board of Supervisors, in recognition of the years of dedicated service B.J. Hayner has given to the Lone Pine Medical Care Committee, is proud to join with the Emergency Medical Care Committee in honoring B.J. Hayner as Inyo County 2009 EMS Provider of the Year,” Fortney said, “and extends its congratulations, heartfelt appreciation and thanks to B.J. Hayner for her dedication and personal commitment to the citizens of Inyo County and commends her on being a shining example of what it means to be a volunteer.”
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