Firefighter of the Year Selected By Peers

The Dalton Fire Department introduced its top firefighter at Tuesday morning's monthly meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission. Fire Chief Todd Pangle recognized Matt Asbell as the agency's Firefighter of the Year. The honor is both nominated and decided by popular vote of the department’s firefighters.

Asbell joined the fire department since January 2003, rising through the ranks to Firefighter III in his 19 years of service. Chief Pangle noted Tuesday morning that twice in the past six months, Asbell put himself into harm’s way while rescuing victims who were trapped inside burning structures. While those victims ultimately did not survive their injuries, Firefighter Asbell's actions gave them their best possible chance for survival. 

As a Firefighter III, Asbell is routinely the firefighter in charge of a company on scenes and he has been successful in that role. Chief Pangle noted that Asbell "continually strives to stay educated and proficient in the latest skill sets related to the job, all while never forgetting the basic skills that have been the bedrock of firefighting for decades." Asbell is currently in training for certification as a fire investigator to assist the department in that capacity.

Chief Pangle said Tuesday that Asbell was chosen for the honor for his commitment to the community, enthusiasm for the profession, and his selfless acts of heroism.