Summit Fire & EMS recognized a Silverthorne resident for her neighborhood leadership on wildfire preparedness while also honoring its own members for public safety and life saving efforts.

During the fire protection district’s three internal work-shift award ceremonies on Thursday, Nov. 2, 42 emergency responders were cited for saving lives in six separate incidents over the past year.

One of those incidents involved Summit Fire & EMS crews providing advanced life support to a newborn who had gone into cardiac arrest, according to a news release from the fire protection agency. The child has reportedly made a full recovery.

“Saving a life is perhaps the highest calling for our emergency responders, and without a doubt the most gratifying thing we do,” Division Chief Rick Ihnken said in the release. “Our crews train tirelessly and keep their skills sharp continuously to be prepared for those situations, and these saves are a testament to their professionalism.”

In other recent incidents, Summit Fire & EMS crews saved a 19-year-old woman who suffered cardiac arrest in a condo at Copper Mountain, a 31-year-old woman who suffered cardiac arrest in Keystone, a 74-year-old man who suffered cardiac arrest on a bike ride and a visitor from Florida who experienced an accidental overdose, fire district spokesperson Steve Lipsher said.

Summit Fire & EMS also presented Ruby Ranch resident Lisa Lewis with a Citizen’s award for her efforts to reduce wildfire hazards and raise awareness of the importance of wildfire preparedness in the neighborhood.

Lewis spearheaded efforts to get the neighborhood designated as a nationally recognized FireWise community, according to the news release. As a FireWise community, the Ruby Ranch neighborhood has been recognized by the National Fire Protection Association for completing a community wildfire risk assessment and dedicating volunteer hours each year to risk reduction.

The Ruby Ranch neighborhood’s residents worked to bolster the hydrant and water-supply system, cleared thousands of deadfall and dead-standing trees on private property, and dramatically reduced hazardous fuels around homes, according to Summit Fire & EMS Wildland Coordinator Kyle Iseminger in the news release.

“The neighborhood has evolved from being an area of high concern to one that now has immensely better standing when it comes to wildfire risk,” Iseminger said. “And Lisa embodies the diligence and spirit of cooperation and collaboration it has taken to get it done.”

Lewis also directed and starred in an educational video about the importance of defensible space around homes and served as a point person in forging a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to conduct fuels reduction and pile burning between the neighborhood and the adjacent Eagle’s Nest Wilderness Area, the release states. She also participates as a stakeholder in the Summit County Wildfire Council.

Summit Fire & EMS also gave awards to several of its members. Lt. Greg Isaacson received the Chief’s Leadership Award for outstanding support and management of his crew members and fire inspector Meghan Layfield received the Community Service Award for developing community outreach programs and enthusiasm in public-education efforts, the release states. The Community Risk Division was awarded a Union Citation for its efforts to transition to a new data-management system.

The Chief’s Award went to compensations and benefits specialist Erin Mumma, who took on new responsibilities managing and transitioning the department’s human resource needs, and Capt. Matt Brewer was designated Employee of the Year for his teamwork filling a variety of roles, according to the news release.

This year marks 25 years of service for Iseminger and Lt. Scott Vinas; 20 years of service for Deputy Chief John Wilkerson, fire-medic Tony Marzo and engineer Ted Salthouse; and 15 years of service for firefighter Cam Bates, engineer Joe Fava and Battalion Chief Lou Laurina.