Photo Gallery: Tolland Fire Department Awards Night

Tolland's first responders took time Monday night to recognize each other's hard work and selfless actions at the first-annual Tolland Fire Department Awards Ceremony.

According to Public Safety Officer Jason Wellings, while awards have been given out from supervisors in the past, Monday's gathering marked the first time a panel of first responders selected award winners from among their peers for their service and heroic deeds.

Wellings said that responders were awarded for incidents that had occurred in the past ten years.

Many of the honors were given for resuscitating patients who lapsed into cardiac arrest, while others related to fire and motor vehicle incidents.

Firefighter Robert McNamee earned his Gallantry Award for preventing a fellow firefighter from falling through the floor into the midst of a basement fire on Stone Pond Drive. 

Deputy Chief James Toomey was given the same award for lying alongside a flipped car on Route 74 and lifting an obstacle inside the vehicle that allowed the trapped driver to breathe, while he was extricated from the car. Toomey was also recognized for his 40 years of service in the department.

Trooper First Class Eric Basak, alongside Troopers John Barrows, Scott McCarthy and Assistant Fire Chief Douglas Racicot were also given the Life Saving Award for alerting a family on Farm Brook Drive that their home was on fire while they were attending to another call.

Wellings congratulated all of the award winners, but also thanked every member of the department for their dedication and selflessness.

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"Each and every one of you should be proud of being a member of this department," he said.

Here is a full list of the award winners: 

Life Saving Award - Steven M. Pasek, Fire Chief John C. Littell, Assistant Fire Chief Douglas Racicot, Amy Bassett, Angelo Fichera, Andrew Cochis, Trooper First Class Steve Corradi, Trooper First Class Eric Basak, Trooper John Barrows, Trooper Scott McCarthy, Assistant Fire Chief Douglas Racicot

Gallantry Award - Deputy Chief James Toomey, Robert McNamee

Distinguished Service to the Tolland Fire Department - Jason C. Wellings, Joseph Duval, Robert McNamee

Unit Citation for 2011 Storms - Dennis Carlson, Joseph Duval, Mark Morrison, Jason C. Wellings, Steven M. Pasek, Angelo Fichera, Fire Chief John C. Littell, Betsy Tanner

Service Recognition Award - Deputy Chief James Toomey - for 40 years in serving in the Tolland Fire Department