ADDISON COUNTY — In a normal year the Addison County Firefighters Association would hold its annual awards dinner at the Eagles Club in Ferrisburgh  in mid-January with more than 225 firefighters, the governor and many other special guests in attendance. But, as we all know too well, this year has been anything but normal.
“As firefighters we are trained to react and adapt as  the situation presents itself, and in 2020 that is exactly what we did,” said Michael Donnelly, chairman of the ACFA Awards Committee and a member of the Vergennes Fire Department. “Many of our brothers and sisters stood out in 2020 and we were able to recognize them albeit by socially distancing at each of their stations.”
Donnelly and helpers handed out the 2020 ACFA awards on Wednesday, Jan. 20, the night that they would have normally had the annual dinner. Firefighters showed up at their respective fire stations decked out in their dress uniforms. Donnelly was kind enough to provide pictures of the winners getting their plaques.
The awards were as follows:
•  Francis Shorkey Fire Chief of the Year: Chief James Breur, Vergennes Fire Department
•  Chief Robert Jenkins Line Officer of the Year: Captain Matthew Lathrop, Bristol Fire Department
•  Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter Jeff Vigne, Ferrisburgh Fire Department
•  Senior Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter Cory Lumbra, Vergennes Fire Department
•  Emergency Maintenance Technician/Truck Captain of the Year: Firefighter Joe Bashaw, Ferrisburgh Fire Department
•  Chief Tom Estey Training Officer of the Year: Matt Dupont, Monkton Fire Department
•  Chief Ralph Jackman Youth Firefighter of the Year: Charles Welch III, Bridport Fire Department
•  Friend of Addison County Firefighters Association Award: Cory Foote, Small City Market, Vergennes
•  Life Membership: Bill Elwell, Bristol Fire Department
•  Life Membership: John “Peeker” Heffernan, Bristol Fire Department
•  Life Membership: David Layn, Monkton Fire Department