Firehouse Announces 2018 EVT of the Year Award Winners
Firehouse is pleased to announce the top five winners of the 2018 Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts to promote a high standard of excellence in quality and safety in emergency vehicles.
In first place is Al Hasenfratz, a Master EVT with the Sylvania, OH, Fire-EMS Department. With over 30 years of experience in vehicle repair and 13 years at his department, Hasenfratz has changed the “mechanic/firefighter dynamic” in Sylvania Township.
One letter nominating Hasenfratz stressed his passion for safety: “Al is always eager to latch onto each and every teaching opportunity to help educate others on the proper and safe best practice.”
Hasenfratz is a Master Heavy Duty EVT, certified by the EVT Certification Commission, and a Master Heavy Duty technician, certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). He is an active member of the Ohio Association of EVTs (OAEVT), serves an alternate for NFPA 1071: Standard for Emergency Vehicle Technician Professional, and serves on the EVT Certification Commission Task Group.
Second place winner is Jeff Morris, fleet services crew leader with the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department, Fire Apparatus and Resource Division. Besides Master EVT and Master ASE certifications, Morris’ reputation is well-known across Southern Texas. He is a member of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Strike Team 197 and was deployed for two weeks during Hurricane Harvey. Morris is also active in the Texas Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians.
Third place is Kevin Sullivan, fleet maintenance supervisor for the Corpus Christi, TX, Fire Department. He is a Master EVT, Master ASE and Master Ambulance EVT, among several other certifications. Sullivan has implemented an annual maintenance program for all 140 pieces of equipment and was commended in his nomination for being a mentor to his subordinates.
Fourth place is Jason Nickelson, shop supervisor for the Mesa, AZ, Fire and Medical Department. With 18 years of service, under Nickelson’s vision, the Mesa Fire and Medical Department’s Fire Mechanical Division is 98 percent self-sufficient and relying only on upholstery repairs from an outside vendor.
Fifth place is Jarrett Hill, fleet manager for the Rattlesnake, CO, Fire Protection District. After nine years with South Metro, CO, Fire Fleet Services, Hill left to develop a new fleet division in Elbert County and provides services to eight fire departments. He also is the Colorado Fire Mechanics Association’s academy director, organizing programs and instructors, and promoting educational opportunities for current and future EVTs.
A special recognition was requested posthumously for Daniel Peluso, EVT with the Holbrook, NY, Fire District, and vice president of the Long Island Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians. After 30 years of dedication and passion for apparatus safety and education, Peluso passed away last year after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
The 2018 EVT of the Year Award is sponsored by Spartan Motors and will be co-presented to Hasenfratz by the Fire Department Safety Officer Association (FDSOA) and Firehouse Magazine at the FDSOA Apparatus Symposium on Jan. 21, 2019, in Orlando, FL.
For more information, visit fdsoa.org.
Past EVT of the Year News
- Lane Named 2017 EVT of the Year
- Corsi Named 2016 EVT of the Year
- 2015 EVT of the Year Announced
- 2014 EVT of the Year Named
Contact
Janet Wilmoth, Special Projects Director
[email protected]; (630) 258-0278
About Firehouse
Firehouse is the leading fire and emergency services brand, reaching more than 1 million unique visitors and subscribers monthly, and thousands of attendees annually, via its live events and media portfolio. The Firehouse brand encompasses Firehouse Magazine, Firehouse.com, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, Firehouse Station Design Conference and Awards, and a host of print and digital products targeting fire and emergency services personnel. Utilizing its multiple platforms and unparalleled reach, Firehouse sets itself apart from the competition by fostering a culture that encourages innovation and the use of the latest digital and database technologies to best serve its audience and companies serving the marketplace.
