“I feel that publicly recognizing our Dixon Fire members is vitally important" 

DIXON, CA (MPG) - “Our community needs to know the names and faces of the people that serve selflessly to protect our citizens and region,” said Dixon Fire Chief Todd McNeal who recognized numerous Dixon firefighters at the first in-person City Council Meeting recently. “I feel that publicly recognizing our Dixon Fire members is vitally important,” he said.

He gave a somber presentation about Dixon firefighters committed to “service before self,” including past members of the department and adding that some of them were not there because they were deployed to the Dixie Fire and some were helping families evacuate the Caldor Fire.

As he spoke, fires raged with more than 10,000 acres burning per day in El Dorado County. The blaze has charred more than 73,400 acres and remains 0% contained, according to last Friday’s morning update by Cal Fire as reported by CNN.

Also at that time, the number of people evacuated jumped to about 23,000 from 16,380 the previous day, according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The first awards that the Chief presented were to Andrew Tomelloso who was recognized as Firefighter of the Year Engineer Paramedic.

“He is an exemplary member and demonstrates how to improve the department as well as improves his own skills,” McNeal said, adding that it was Tomelloso’s second time receiving the honor.

Then, the Allen Benefield Award was given to Firefighter Christian Arriaga-Bautista.

Commendation of Superior Effort for response to the 2020 LNU Complex were: Captain Al Apaka; Captain Paramedic Jason Barker; Reserve Firefighter Jason Ford; Firefighter Brady Hartinger; Firefighter Paramedic Justin Hemje; Captain Jarrod Infante; Engineer Markus Lincoln; Division Chief John Malone; Firefighter Paramedic Taylor McAbee; Captain Brian Schroeder (Ret.); and Engineer Paramedic Andrew Tomelloso.

The Cody Robben Life Saving Award was bestowed upon: Captain Al Apaka, Engineer Paramedic (Ret.) Steve Coleman, and Engineer Markus Lincoln.

James “Cody” Robben, 24, passed away on July 23, 2010, from injuries he sustained during an off-duty auto accident in Dixon. He had grown up in the Dixon Fire Department, following the footsteps of his father, Tony Robben.

Lastly, the Commendation of Outstanding Effort for their voluntary response to assist with the COVID surge in Southern California were Firefighter Paramedic Grant Haynie and Firefighter Paramedic Taylor McAbee.