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Pensacola Instructor named Fire Service Instructor of the Year
TALLAHASSEE- Professor Kurt P. Larson of Pensacola Junior College was among 10 fire and rescue service personnel honored today by Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink for exemplary leadership last year in the line of duty. CFO Sink presented a proclamation signed by Governor Charlie Crist and other members of the Cabinet recognizing Larson as Florida’s 2006 Fire Service Instructor of the Year.
“These men and women have been chosen by their peers for this recognition because they have demonstrated exemplary courage and commitment to their profession,” said CFO Sink. “That our responders regularly honor those they consider the best among them demonstrates the integrity they all bring to their work, and they have my utmost gratitude for all that they do.”
The awards are presented annually to fire and rescue personnel who are recognized by their colleagues as having served beyond the call of duty. In addition to honoring these individuals, the Cabinet has designated April 15-21 as Florida Firefighter Appreciation Week.
Larson, who is chief of training and safety at McCall Fire Rescue, has been an adjunct instructor and trainer with Pensacola Junior College since 2002. In his nomination, Richard Henderson, Director of Fire Science and Fire Academy Programs, wrote, “He is a firefighter’s firefighter -doing everything in his ability to make sure they have skills and abilities to be safe.” During his career, Larson has been credited with enhancing and coordinating emergency and non-emergency operations for several agencies, developing a department-wide training program, and consolidating organization structure to save taxpayers in excess of $100,000 per year.
He was nominated by the Florida Society of Fire Service Instructors.
