Webster Volunteer Fire Department News
2014 Honoree of the Year
Past Chief Craig W. Akins
On January 30, 2014, Past Chief Craig W. Akins was honored as the Webster Volunteer Fire Department honoree of the Year. Chief Akins was presented this honor at the 44th Annual Police, Fire and Ambulance Recognition Dinner. This dinner is held annually by the Webster-Fairport B.P.O. Elks Club Lodge #2396.
Webster Volunteer Fire Department
B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 2396 2014 Nominee
Past Chief Craig W. Akins
Craig W. Akins has been a member of the Webster Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 40 years. Chief Akins joined the fire department in 1975 and quickly worked his way up to the rank of Captain. Through his exceptional firefighting skills and strong leadership approach he has built a reputation as being one of the most respected members of the Webster Fire Department.
In 2003 Chief Akins continued his passion for firefighting when he accepted a career firefighter position with the Ridge Culver Fire District. In the years following he would return to the leadership ranks of the Webster Fire Department to serve as Assistant Chief and ultimately Chief. While serving as Assistant Chief he took great pride in mentoring his son, Craig Akins Junior, who at the time was serving his first term as the Webster Fire Chief.
His strong commitment to training has led to improvements to interior firefighter qualifications and he has always led by positive example. His management and control of the fire ground is second to none with the safety of his firefighters always his priority. As Chief he has been very dedicated to the community and has participated in a large number of fire prevention programs including his coordination of the annual fire station sleepovers with the children from the Finger Lakes Regional Burn Association.
With nearly 40 years of firefighting experience Chief Akins has been involved in many extreme situations. From delivering more than a few babies..... to extricating pinned victims in vehicle crashes..... to performing CPR on unresponsive victims...... he has always served his community with distinction. This was the case in March of 2011, when then Assistant Chief Akins and assisting firefighters rescued a teenage boy from the icy waters of Lake Ontario. This was a true life saving effort in which the victim most likely would have not survived without the efforts of Chief Akins and his firefighters. When asked about his firefighting career the Chief humbly replies, "I just do what firefighters are trained for and what we are expected to do".
During his tenure Chief Akins has showed great leadership. He was faced with difficult personnel matters and the devastation of the Christmas Eve tragedy involving our brother firefighters and friends at the West Webster Fire Department. Throughout these very difficult times Chief Akins was a beacon of strength and professionalism. He counseled us....stood side by side with us.... and cried with us. He was the fiber of strength that kept the fabric of our organization together and our sense of brotherhood strong. It is with great honor, and with an enormous amount of gratitude, that the Webster Volunteer Fire Department recognizes Past Chief Craig W. Akins as the 2014 Honoree of the Year.
Tribute Videos for the Webster Volunteer Fire Department
By Billy Critz
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Webster Fire 2008
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