In this year’s Annual Installation & Awards Luncheon, hosted by Colton’s Chamber of Commerce, two individuals were awarded for their hard work and dedication in their profession. This year, Colton’s Firefighter of the Year award was given to Joey Armendarez, Fire Captain of Colton Fire Department Station 212.
Growing up in Colton himself, Armendarez is proud to be serving his community. He remembers Colton very fondly in his childhood and still carries memories of Colton’s very own Movieland Frontier Town where his dad was a stuntman.
Armendarez favorite thing about his professional career is the group of men that he gets to serve with. “It’s like my second family,” he said. He enjoys being around very knowledgeable and eager men who are committed to their profession.
The most challenging part of his work Armedarez stated is the hiring process. The fire department has experienced a decrease in people coming in. “And it’s something that all departments have been struggling with,” he explained further, "considering how challenging the last few years have been." A lot of his team including himself are overworked, working 96 hours work week. However, Armendarez still expressed gratitude for those that are working and for the community’s support.
Armendarez words of advice for anyone considering joining the fire department were to do well and finish school. “There’s a lot of applied knowledge that is involved in the work that having degrees can only serve as a benefit,” he said. Armendarez encourages whoever is interested to get familiar with what the work is and join the explorer programs in your local fire department.
When asked what his core belief in firefighting was, he emphasized that personal care is the most important care. “It’s not always a crazy rescue,” Armendarez stated. “It’s about showing up and educating, teaching what care and safety is, and it’s about being a part of the helpline.”
In the future, Armendarez hopes to see firefighting in a positive light. He wants more outreach to the community so that more people know how to handle and prevent dangerous situations. He hopes to see an increase in safety for the community, but also hopes this for firefighters as well.
This November, Armendarez will be celebrating seven years of being a firefighter. This achievement, along with being awarded Colton’s Firefighter of the Year, and the eager arrival of his child with his fiancé, only means that Armendarez has many things to celebrate. A huge congratulations and thank you are in order for Fire Captain Joey Armendarez!