Honoring North Carolina’s Finest: NCSFA 2025 Firefighter of the Year & Valor Awards
The North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association is proud to recognize the exceptional service and heroism of our 2025 award recipients. These honors—based on dedication, bravery, and selfless commitment—are among the highest recognitions the NCSFA can bestow.
Award Highlights
Firefighter of the Year
This prestigious award honors a firefighter who has demonstrated sustained excellence, outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to the fire service—not just in one incident, but across their career.
Valor Awards
These awards recognize firefighters who have shown exceptional courage and bravery in the face of extreme danger, often risking their own safety during life-threatening emergencies.
Firefighter of the Year – 2025
Steve Freeman, Bat Cave Fire Department
Steve’s unwavering dedication and consistent excellence throughout his career exemplify the qualities that define this award. It was said about Chief Freeman that in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, “…he didn’t hesitate. He didn’t wait for help—he was the help.”
Valor Award Recipients – 2025
Mooresville Fire – Rescue
Eric Keller • Marcus Perkins • Scott Hauck
The Mooresville Fire-Rescue Swift Water Rescue Team was deployed to Ashe County in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene to assist with rescue operations. While the entire team worked tirelessly in challenging conditions, the extraordinary bravery of three members stood out when, on September 27, 2024, they saved the lives of two individuals.
Durham Fire Department
Emily Hannigan • Phillip Facette • Max Matthews
It was said that the “… teamwork and technical expertise of the E9 crew.” Is what made the heroic rescue possible, in just 8 minutes and 43 seconds from the time of dispatch the night of January 10, 2025. And that “Their swift, calculated, and selfless actions under extreme conditions undoubtedly saved the victim’s life.”
Old Fort Fire Department
Travis Piercy
Following Hurricane Helene, Travis Piercy hiked 4-5 miles on foot and used a rope and kayak to cross swift water to rescue an unconscious victim. He was able to get him to a waiting helicopter that transported the victim to a trauma center. It was said that, “Travis went well above and beyond the duty and risked his life to save another.”
Atwell Township Fire Department
Henry Parham
On August 18, 2024 Captain Parham jumped into a vehicle with an armed suspect, combatting gunfire, to allow his fellow Rowan County first responders to get to safety. He risked his own life for the members of his department without hesitation.
Mulberry-Fairplains Fire Department
Alvin Wagoner (award presented posthumously to daughter, Keshi)
Following Hurricane Helene, Alvin Wagoner forwent his own health and medication for his cancer to be there for his community. He ran call after call and showed up for those that needed him, to his detriment. It ended up costing him his own life, but he would never have not been there for those that needed him the most in their time need.
Charlotte Fire Department
Justin Barringer • William Costello • Mike Clumpner • Scott Dellinger • Austin Ely • Nathan Jones • John Lipcsak • Gregory Marron • Hunter Meadows • Jonathan Moore • Adam Reingold • Pete Skeris • Thomas Spence • Jacob Sprinkle • Eric Withers
While serving a warrant the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force four law enforcement officers lost their lives from one lone gunman. The Charlotte FD was dispatched for an unknown medical emergency and upon arrival, while attempting extraction of the officers, the members of CFD began taking fire. Chief Reginald Johnson said, “Firefighters are trained to run into burning buildings, but stepping into an active gunfight to save lives is something that goes beyond any standard call of duty.”
Join us in honoring these outstanding firefighters for their heroism and lifelong dedication to serving and protecting our communities. Your resilience, strength, and reliability inspire us all—Ready. Resilient. Reliable.
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