Fort Sam Houston Fire Department named best in DOD

By Lori NewmanSeptember 22, 2011

Fort Sam Houston Firefighters in Action
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DOD Fire Department of the Year award
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- The Fire Sam Houston Fire Department recently culminated a successful year, taking the Department of Defense Fire Department of the Year (Small Department) award.

"This is recognition from our peers saying we are doing the job. We are making a difference in our community and we are doing that well," said Chief Curtis Williams, Fort Sam Houston Fire Department.

"The award validates the blood, sweat and tears that these guys put in every single day, from the chief on down to the entire department," said Michael Grizer, director, 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron.

After a nomination package is prepared and submitted, the entire department is judged on customer service, other accreditations and certificates, innovativeness, firefighter health and safety initiatives and quality of life initiatives.

The FSH Fire Department also won at the Air Education and Training Command-level, then at the Air Force-level, making them eligible to compete for the DOD-level award, where only one submission competes from each service branch.

"This is the result of years and years and years of hard work, fine tuning and training," Grizer said. "Setting this climate of excellence doesn't just happen overnight.

"There are 56 people in this flight," Grizer said. "Winning the best fire department award isn't just about the guys fighting the fire … it's everyone working together."

"This truly doesn't come overnight; it has to be a vision," Williams added.