Spring Firefighters Receive Honors for Outstanding Service 

Four Spring Firefighters are honored for outstanding service to the community at the department’s annual awards ceremony on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

“A Spring Firefighter of the Year award is our way of acknowledging the best of us,” said Spring Fire Chief Scott Seifert. “The Fire Chief’s Award is for that one individual making a positive impact for our community by changing the department for the better.”

A Shift Firefighter of the Year

Kenneth Johnson is A-Shift’s Firefighter of the Year.

“Firefighter Kenneth Johnson is a firefighter to exemplify,” said A-Shift District Chief Kevin Wiseman. “Not only does he do his job well he continues to strive for more for himself and the department.”

While building his rescue knowledge and training and welcoming a son this year, Johnson is helping build the foundation for Spring Fire’s Peer Support/Chaplaincy program.

A-Shift congratulates Firefighter Johnson on this honor. As his chief said, his commitment “does not go unnoticed, and is an example for us to follow.”

B-Shift Firefighter of the Year

Brandon Braswell is B-Shift’s Firefighter of the Year.

“He has grown from being a totally green firefighter in 2021 into a student of the profession earning the respect and friendship of most everyone he works with and encounters,” said B-Shift District Chief Chris von Wiesenthal. “He has excelled as a professional and is currently working to become a model asset on the rescue team.”

“Our congratulations to Brandon on being B-Shift’s Firefighter of the Year,” added von Wiesenthal.

C-Shift Firefighter of the Year

Colton Russell is C-Shift’s Firefighter of the Year.

C-Shift District Chief Jimmy Stewart asks his captains to nominate excellent members of their crews for this honor and receives many nominations. Stewart says the nomination from Firefighter Colton Russell’s captain stood out. “He’s a hard worker with a great attitude,” said Stewart who praised Russell for always being willing to work with rookies and help them learn. “Firefighter Russell always steps up, it’s not a one-time event but an everyday commitment to the job, the crew and the department. I congratulate him on this well-earned honor.”

Volunteer Firefighter of the Year

Darian Goodlander, who recently made firefighting at Spring his career, is the Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.

“Even though Firefighter Goodlander has only been with us for a relatively short time, his experience and motivation shine through,” said District Chief of Volunteers Joel Crenshaw. “During our Recruit Academy, he was always the first person to arrive and one of the last to leave class. While he went on to attain his TCFP Basic Firefighter Certification and get hired as a career firefighter, Darian continues to assist our recruits at trainings and instill the culture of the department within our newest members.”

“Please join me in congratulating Darian Goodlander for being the 2024 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year,” added Crenshaw.

The 2024 Fire Chief’s Award Recipient is Brian Powers

Longtime Spring Volunteer Firefighter Brian Powers is the 2024 Fire Chief’s award recipient.

“Brian is the consummate community volunteer,” said Seifert. “He is always there when he is needed and many volunteers have become career firefighters because of Firefighter Powers.”

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” was in theaters and NASA launched the first space shuttle mission when Brian Powers joined Spring Fire back in 1981.

In the 1980s the Spring Fire Department was all volunteer. Volunteers rushed to fires from home and work. “Everybody had jobs, and we did the best we could in getting everybody together.” “We were pretty busy,” said Powers. “Everybody had jobs, and we did the best we could in getting everybody together.”

Over the last few decades, Spring’s population has tripled. While the department evolved to meet the community’s changing needs, Powers continues to play integral roles in supporting crews and training new volunteers.

In November 2023 Powers was honored as the Spring Fire Volunteer of the Year. His continued efforts have led to him to receiving the department’s top honor this year.

“To this firefighter it’s about service and mentoring, including mentoring me,” said District Chief of Volunteers Joel Crenshaw. “He relishes saving lives and property, but his real calling is teaching new Spring volunteer recruits how to be Spring Firefighters.”

Powers, along with fellow volunteer Marc Corbeil, has also been honored with a rare Administration Commendation Bar for the critical role he plays in training volunteer recruits. “Firefighter Powers is an amazing knowledge base,” said Corbeil. “You can ask him just about anything about the community or firefighting and he will know the answer.”

“As a teacher he is really calm in every situation and he always led with patience and good advice,” added Spring Volunteer Firefighter Blake Hliva. “Whether you were new or a seasoned firefighter, you always learned something new.”

When Powers joined there was no volunteer recruit academy for new firefighters. “We trained when we could because we were busy putting out fires most of the time,” Powers said. Back then new firefighter training occurred in meetings, whenever enough volunteers could get together or when the county or Texas A&M University offered options.

Powers still works shifts at Spring Fire Station 70 driving the Heavy Utility Truck, Rehab and Booster which play integral roles in major and minor emergency incidents. As for why this retired automotive engineer still volunteers, he will tell you Spring is his home. So, for as long as he can, he intends to continue protecting his neighbors and training the next generation of firefighters.

“These exceptional men set a standard for service and our department and community receive the benefits,” concluded Seifert. “To all four honorees, I thank them for their exemplary service on behalf of the entire department and our community.”