Locals honored at 15th annual Firefighter's Ball

The evening began with Dick Bratton, Sandy Farrell and Don Sullivan.

The three members of The Great Scots stood in the room, lifted their bagpipes and played “Amazing Grace.”

To outsiders, the 15th Annual Firefighter’s Ball invocation might have seemed strange. But to firefighters and their families, the long-tradition of bagpipes and Lake County firefighters is a perfect combination. Polson Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary President Bonnie Kiser welcomed the large crowd gathered at Polson’s KwaTaqNuk Resort to this year’s event. Then she shared the bagpipers’ story.

History records the tradition of bagpipes playing at fire and police department funerals to honor the many Irish emergency workers who served across the county through various departments over the years.

“The bagpipers go back to the Potato Famine days,” Kiser said. 

Many Irishmen immigrated to this county and brought their traditions with them. During the 1800s, Irishmen faced wide-spread discrimination, she said. And the only jobs they were able to obtain were those with the highest risk of danger, like police and fire departments. Tradition says that the sound of the bagpipes allowed proud Irishmen to weep when his dignity would not allow him to cry over his fallen comrade. Retired firefighters Tony Porrazo and Paul Fors sat at their tables as well as Lake County District Court Judge Deborah Kim Christopher and Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron. 

Next to them firefighters representing different departments shared an evening of honor, relaxation and excellent Hawaiian-themed food.

Firefighters and their dates were given free meals thanks to table sponsors who paid their $40 per person ticket as an act of appreciation.

Money raised from the event will go to pay for new equipment in the form of microphones inside headgear that firefighters use to communicate with one another during fires. Kiser said the Polson City Fire Department is in need of the new equipment.

A live auction displayed items for sale. And a Polson Retired Senior Volunteer Program representative shared a video that celebrated the Polson City Fire Department’s hard work re-stringing colorful Christmas lights around the city’s traditional Christmas Tree as well as the wonderful turnout of this year’s Parade of Lights, partially sponsored by the Lake County Leader newspaper.

Clint Cottle, Polson City Fire Department Chief punctuated the event with the distribution of department awards.

Though Kiser said that KwaTaqNuk culinary staff created an unforgettable cuisine to enjoy during the event, firefighters ended their annual official evening of celebration with dancing to music provided by local band, Gladys Friday.

Polson Fire Department awards were:

Fire Officer of the Year: Chris McGuinness

Senior Firefighter of the Year: Pete Bishop

Firefighter of the Year: Blake Holman 

Cottle recognized: Paul Fors for retirement; Karen Sargeant and Kraig Rubel who both left the department after 12 years of service for outside-of-the-area opportunities.

Six firefighters were recognized for different milestones, Cottle said.

Five years of service: Kevin Straub, Ryan Nelson and Gregg Perkins

10 years of service: Keith Paul

15 years of service: Steve McCoy

20 years of service: Martin Glasson

Jodi O’Sullivan and Pete Bishop were also recognized for completing the First Fire Officer 1 Academy in Montana which requires 90 hours of outside-of-the-area training.

The Polson City Fire Department firefighters are fully volunteer.