The Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Co., one of Harford County's busiest, celebrated its first responders and community supporters at the company's annual banquet Saturday evening.
The event marked the 60th annual installation of officers ceremony for Joppa-Magnolia, which is starting its 64th year of service.
D'Angelo Holmes, with 1,217 fire calls and 230 medical calls, walked away with many of the top awards. He was honored for being both the top fire responder and the top EMS responder.
Steve Hatchett, meanwhile, was honored as Firefighter of the Year.
Joe Burrs was recognized as EMS Officer of the Year, and Brandon Clark was EMS Provider of the Year.
The company continued to face a rising tide of calls for service, with 4,310 EMS calls and 1,704 fire calls in 2014.
Chief Ryan Barrow noted EMS calls spiked substantially.
"That is a great climb," he told those attending the banquet. "Last year, it was [about] 3,800."
Barrow said Holmes is one of the firefighters who have taken advantage of Joppa-Magnolia's "live-in" program, where volunteers live at the station.
"To the citizens that call for that aid, that is priceless," he said. "Our call volume keeps us way too busy."
The company has added eight full-time emergency medical technicians and paramedics to serve two staffed medic units around the clock, according to a message from President Bob Russell in the banquet program.
Joppa-Magnolia bought a new ladder truck and a new ambulance in the past year, and also refurbished two trucks.
Joppa-Magnolia's year was marked by several fatal accidents and the death of former Chief Derrick Lloyd, who served as a line officer for 15 years and chief for four years. He was the Maryland State Firemen's Association's Firefighter of the Year for 2008, according to the banquet program.
Lloyd was honored with a brief memorial ceremony during the banquet. A picture of him, adorned by a lit candle and flowers, stood in front of the speakers' podium.
Toloria Spruell, of Abingdon Volunteer Fire Co., was emotional as she told banquet attendees that the last conversation she had with Lloyd was about brotherhood.
Spruell was among several people honored for helping Lloyd in his final days.
Spruell said Joppa-Magnolia demonstrates true brotherhood and also mentioned "the love that Reisterstown and White Marsh [fire companies] showed us." She said she hopes everyone has the kind of brotherhood Joppa-Magnolia has.
Richard Brooks III, director of Cecil County's Department of Emergency Services and master of ceremonies for the banquet, reminded firefighters and paramedics to take care of themselves, as they probably have only a few hours weekly to devote to their own well-being.
"We need you to be healthy of mind and spirit. We need you to be healthy of body so you can take care of the people who entrust you in their time of need," he said.
Brooks also said the many attendees who wore dress uniforms spoke volumes about their professionalism.
He referred to the roughly dozen company members who were recognized with Life Saver Awards, for helping save a life.
"Each one of you did it with dignity and you know that a life was in your hands while you received that award," Brooks said.
In what may be turning into a new tradition, Joppa-Magnolia's leaders again showed the Ravens game on projection screens before starting the banquet.
Brooks jokingly referred to the Ravens' nail-biting loss to the Patriots that night.
"It really didn't matter, because to me, and it's just to me, the Super Bowl was last week," he said about the game against the Steelers. "We took out Pittsburgh in their home town... We are happy campers. And if you are a Pittsburgh fan, I am sorry to hear that."
Besides D'Angelo Holmes, the top fire responders were Ted Spruell III with 826 calls; Bill Vanarsdale Jr., with 748; Fred Causey with 651; Kyle Barthel with 638; John Terrell with 575; Andrew Doyle with 541; Elijah Purvey with 527; Mark Hofmann Jr., with 512; and Andrew Halman with 511.
The top EMS responders, after Holmes, were Katelyn Jones with 227 calls; Richard Jagat with 155; Joseph Burrs with 135; Lelia Ward and Brandon Clark, each with 100; Holly Ludwig with 87; Luke Thomas with 79; Gregory Enzler with 55; and Kyle Barthel with 48.