Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department members Steve Hardesty and Mihai Petrisor aren't ones to sit and watch TV in their spare time.
Instead, they can be found responding to emergency calls and providing leadership for other volunteers at the fire company on Southwestern Boulevard.
Saturday, both were recognized for their service to the community by the American Legion Dewey Lowman Post 109 during the organization's 81st birthday celebration held at its headquarters on Sulphur Spring Road.
Chuck Catterton, an Arbutus resident who serves as commander of the post, said the organization likes to recognize police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians for putting themselves in perilous situations to save the lives of others.
"They're willing to be working at one of the most dangerous jobs, putting their lives on the line," said Catterton, a former firefighter who served in the Navy Mobile Construction Battalion. "A lot of these guys also work day jobs — they should be recognized for their service."
Both Hardesty and Petrisor were nominated by Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department former commanding officer Doug Simpkins Jr., who recently retired as captain after 24 years, and president of the fire company John McDowell, according to Norman Simpkins Jr., captain of the department. The fire company serves 50,000 people in a 40-mile radius, which includes the Arbutus and Catonsville communities, according to the operation's website.
Hardesty, 46, senior first lieutenant of operations at the fire department and a Howard County fire captain, received the American Legion Post's Firefighter of the Year award.
"When you look at their membership, what they've been through and what some of their family members have been through — and they still have the drive to give back to the community — it makes it special... I feel humbled," Hardesty said.
Established in 1933, the organization has close to 1,000 members, Catterton said.
Petrisor, 23, is one of four at the company who serve as second lieutenant EMS. He said he was surprised to hear he had been named Volunteer EMS Provider of the Year.
"I was very surprised because I wasn't expecting it. I'm honored — it shows that someone appreciates me," said Petrisor, a student at the nearby University of Maryland, Baltimore County working toward a bachelor's degree in emergency health services. "It energized me to want to do more."
Both men have taken on leadership roles, which requires an extra time commitment.
"I look at it as, somebody has to do it," said Hardesty, a former assistant chief at the English Consul Volunteer Fire Department in Baltimore Highlands who has been with the Arbutus organization for five years.
Hardesty, who was mentored by older firefighters at English Consul, said he enjoys mentoring younger members, such as Petrisor, who are looking to gain experience in the field.
"I had a lot of mentors and role models who helped form me into the person I am today," said Hardesty, who went through the junior program at English Consul. "I try to do the same thing."
Petrisor said he's learned how to lead from Hardesty and other high ranking officers at the fire company.
"They taught me how to act as an officer... not everybody can do it," Petrisor said. "You have to know how to approach people and talk to people."
Petrisor said earning the respect of others at the company, the largest of 35 volunteer companies in the county with the second highest call volume, is more difficult than when you're paid for the job.
"If you're a paid guy, whoever is your officer, you have to respect them or else you get in trouble. But here, you're a volunteer so you can just walk out the door," Petrisor said. "But we have a great leadership — we respect them and they respect us back."
Both men said they like serving the Arbutus community because residents support what they do.
"We have a lot of fundraisers and there are always a lot of people there who are involved," said Petrisor, who lives in Timonium with his family and has been with the Arbutus group almost three years. "I like the small town atmosphere."
It's a sentiment shared by his fellow award-winner.
"The majority of the people that we serve appreciate what we do," Hardesty said. "I enjoy it, it's giving back to the community."