Photograph by Robert Scheer
Volunteer firefighter Tim Mehringer has been with the district for two years.
By Cecily Barnes
At the Saratoga Fire Department's annual Christmas dinner, 20-year-old Tim Mehringer was named "Fire Fighter of the Year" at the Saratoga Fire Department's annual Christmas dinner. He was given a plaque and a procession of pats on the back, thanking him for two years of volunteer service and a job well done.
"I'm not really sure why I got it," Mehringer said. "I put in a fair amount of time, I worked hard and tried to do my best. But I know there are a lot of other guys down there who deserve it as much as myself."
Mehringer is one of Saratoga's 30 volunteer firefighters, who help fight fires and back staff the station when the crew responds to medical calls. Being paid only a token $3 an hour, these volunteers truly make a difference, Fire Captain Bill Morrison said. And when it comes time to present the yearly "Fire Fighter of the Year" award, it usually goes to one of the volunteers.
The "Fire Fighter of the Year" award was originally known as the Willie Worden award, after a volunteer firefighter who worked for many years at the station before passing away. The award, created to honor the hard work of a firefighter, maintained its original intent when recently awarded to Tim Mehringer.
Mehringer became interested in the fire department's volunteer program while a student at Saratoga High School. After hearing about it from a friend, he signed up and was officially a fire department member four days after his 18th birthday.
"I do it because it's exciting; it's a lot of fun and there are a lot of great guys down there," Mehringer said. "Eventually I want to go into firefighting."
But first Mehringer intends to finish school. Currently, he is taking general education, business and fire science courses at West Valley and Mission colleges. And on top of volunteering and school, Mehringer just landed a job with a mason, because $3 an hour doesn't quite pay the rent.
"It pretty much takes care of fuel and the expense of cleaning the uniforms," Mehringer explained. "We don't do it for the money."
Mehringer was chosen to receive the award by fellow volunteers and fire staff, who selected the most worthy recipient through a poll organized by Captain Morrison.
"About one month prior to the [Christmas] party I sent out a notice to the firefighters, saying this is what the requirements are to be firefighter of the year; please select someone and give the reason why," Morrison said. The staff picked Mehringer.
"I was very surprised but very happy to get the award," Mehringer said.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 8, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.