Two major wildfires made 2008 an active year for firefighters in Santa Barbara County, who battled the Tea and Gap fires this past fall and summer.

However, firefighters put aside their heavy equipment Wednesday evening and sat back to enjoy a tri-tip dinner at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge in recognition of their hard work.

While the 32nd annual Firefighters Appreciation Night honored all of the county’s firefighters, six of them received special recognition by their departments as nominees for Firefighter of the Year.

“We appreciate putting (the dinner) on for (the firefighters),” Elks Exalted Ruler Tommy Gee said. “We like to give them recognition for all they do for the whole community.”

Several hundred firefighters, their immediate families and local dignitaries gathered at the dinner, which has become a beloved Elks tradition that won’t be ending any time soon.

“We plan on putting it on for several more years,” Gee said.

At the dinner, six agencies selected one special firefighter who went far and above the call of duty.

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The honorees were:

n Doug Bedell of the Santa Maria Fire Department.

n Capt. Anthony Stornetta of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

n Alice Saucedo of the Guadalupe Fire Department.

n paramedic Stacy Coppo of American Medical Response.

n Staff Sgt. Robert P. Raffel of Vandenberg Air Force Base.

n Fire Engine Operator Jeffrey A. Knepp of the U.S. Forest Service.

On Wednesday, Santa Maria Fire Department Chief Frank Ortiz called Bedell a “role model for all new firefighters coming on board in the future.”

Bedell has gone beyond the required education level for firefighters by earning a bachelor’s degree. Since joining the department in 2003, Bedell has organized a Junior Firefighters Camp for kids up to age 10 and also become certified as a trainer. He occasionally fills in for Ortiz at the Hancock College Fire Academy.

“(Bedell) is the kind of guy that firefighters should strive to be like when they come on board here. He’s respectful, he’s nice to people, he’s nice, he works hard ... and he does his job with pride and professionalism,” Ortiz said.

Vandenberg Fire Chief Mark Farias said Raffel “has made out department shine each and every day ... he’s met every challenge and exceeded every expectation.

But most of the award recipients, including Saucedo, said they couldn’t have succeeded without the backing of their co-workers. Though people call the station on a regular basis to thank her for her work, Saucedo said she feels undeserving.

“I feel like I receive much more than I give,” she said, her voice nearly breaking.

January 8, 2009