Plymouth Volunteer Firefighter and Department Safety Officer Wayne Smith was awarded the Indiana “Volunteer Firefighters Association 5th District 2014 Globe Award” for his dedication to the fire service during Wednesday night’s county fire meeting. The 5th District includes Marshall, Kosciusko, Wabash, Miami, Fulton and part of Pulaski counties. The award winner is selected by the district chairman.
Smith has been with the Plymouth Fire Department for nearly 44 years, serving 20 years a chief and 24 years as a volunteer. At the age of 73 Smith is the oldest active volunteer firefighter for the City of Plymouth. He’s a regular when the alarm sounds and has responded to over 120 calls so far this year.
Over the years Wayne has received master certification in arson, engineering technology, strategy and tactics, instruction, inspector, and fire service management. He’s also completed the Executive Fire Officer’s 4-year program at the National Fire Academy and completed many other fire schools.
Smith is a past 5th District Chairman, past President of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association, served 18 years on their board of directors, and is now a lifetime member of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association. Wayne has also received the Indiana Instructor of the Year Award twice.
Smith is a strong supporter of fire prevention education efforts throughout Northern Indiana and feels the mandatory training now for firefighters is a step in the right direction. He said, “When I started, my first fire call was my first training exercise.”
Over his 40 years Smith has seen a number of changes in the fire service. When he started you were give a pair of hip boots, a rubber rain coat and a plastic helmet. The new call-out gear is a tremendous improvement. In the early years there were only two respiratory protection packs on each rig, now there are air packs for every position on the truck. Smith estimated $4,000 to $6,000 to outfit a volunteer. Communications have improved with everyone having a portable radio at the fire scene. Smith obtained the city’s first thermal-imagining helmet for the department when he was chief.
The quality of firefighters here in Marshall County shows with Bremen’s retired fire chief Jerry Lanning received this award in 2013 and John Grolich received the award in 2012.
Grolich said, “Smith continues to be a role model for volunteering and community service in Plymouth.”
Photo: President of the Marshall County Fire Association and Past Globe award winner John Grolich congratulates Wayne Smith a receiving the prestigious award.
