The Lakewood Fire Department held its annual Fire Recognition Ceremony Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Madison Ave station. Open to the public, the ceremony began promptly at noon. The sound of bagpipes filled the firehouse as the firefighters marched in formation—a moving start to the tradition that brings the community together each year.
The ceremony served as both a celebration and a reflection—honoring firefighters for their dedication over the past year, remembering those who have passed, swearing in recently recruited firefighters, and recognizing promotions within the department over the past year.
There are approximately 16,000 buildings within Lakewood’s 5.6-square-mile radius. The fire station on Madison Avenue is one of three in the city. Despite these high demands, the team of 86 uniformed firefighters is known for having one of the fastest response times in the state of Ohio.
Fire Marshal Ryan Birth emphasized the annual event as a chance to recognize the department’s accomplishments. “Its a great opportunity to look back and reflect on the year that we had and honor our members for the good, strong work that they do in the community,” he said. “[It] also gives us a chance to swear in our new members and really, you know, look forward to their long careers and bring them into the Lakewood Fire Department tradition.”
“Not long after I started, I became a member of the honor guard, which does, you know, parades and funerals,” Birth said. “I remember walking in the Fourth of July parade one year, and just the support of the community and the applause that we got walking in the parade really was humbling, and kind of took me a step back and realized what a special place this is to work,” he added, reflecting on what it means to him to represent the department.
The sense of community was strong at the station that Sunday. The event drew support from friends, family members, Lakewood residents, and several local leaders, including Ohio State Sen. Nickie Antonio, who offered a few words during the service:
“To see how you know how much hard work that we put in every day to be there for the community—and stand guard and be there for anything that they need—and just understand that, as much as that this might be our fire department, it’s theirs as well. And we always welcome them…because we realize how important it is to be a part of the community,” Antonio said.
Retired Lakewood police officer Jan Hill helped ring the ceremonial bell. Hill, who worked alongside the department for decades, spoke from the heart: “Serving Lakewood during my time had some boredom with a lot of panic injected. Some nights it was just exciting.” Turning to the firefighters, he added simply, “God bless you, and keep up the good work.”
Resident Sarah de Rosa attended the ceremony for her husband, who received an award. She praised the department for its emergency service and the day-to-day responsibilities that sometimes go unnoticed:
“Response times in Lakewood are amazing, which is something that, when I lived there, I took for granted,” she said. “It gives people an overall sense of security.” She added that firefighters are the “heroes in the big moments, but also the small things, like just making sure that all of our pipes are right and all the fire hydrants are working correctly. You can always rely on them,” de Rosa said.
The Firefighter Recognition Ceremony is a wonderful way to get to know those in our community, thank the protectors of our town, and strengthen the bond between departments and residents. It’s a reminder that the station is open to the public, and residents are always welcome.
As Birth put it, “To see how much hard work we put in every day to be there for the community—and to feel that support in return—is what makes [Lakewood] such a special place to serve.”
