PHOTO COURTESY OF: WAINWRIGHT PHOTO

(WENY) -- A Hammondsport Fire Chief was honored with a prestigious award in mid-June. Hammondsport Fire Department Chief William Fries Sr. was awarded the New York State Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award.

Chief Fries was nominated by members of his squad because of his dedication and commitment to the department and the community.

Chief Fries was selected as the recipient of the award by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) Board of Directors.

One member of the board said it wasn't a competition because everything was based on what a volunteer has done.

"He's dedicated...He worked with the school district, he was dedicated in instrumental career days doing fire prevention, doing continuous recruiting for new volunteers... that's what makes a leader," said President of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Scott Ewing.

Chief Fries has been a part of the Hammondsport Fire Department since 1979. His colleagues mentioned in their nomination letter that he had a great passion for what he does and is committed to the training and professional development of his members.

The full write-up of Chief Fries' career can be found below.

'Fries served as Assistant Chief from 1981-1985 and was elected Chief in 1986. He has served as a Steuben County Deputy Fire Coordinator since 2012, has been a member of the Steuben County Fire Advisory Board for 20 years, and is a longtime member and current treasurer of the Steuben County Fire Chiefs Association. Recently, Fries received the annual Recognition Award for the Hammondsport Fire Department presented by the Steuben County Chamber of Commerce.

Under Fries’ leadership, the department has committed to training its members to the highest extent possible to ensure firefighter and community safety. The Hammondsport Fire Department is one of the few volunteer fire departments in New York State to achieve an ISO rating of 3.

Fries has served as the Hammondsport Central School Transportation Superintendent for over 20 years and is a very active member of district committees that focus on student safety, fire/life safety, and fire prevention education. He is an active participant in career day activities at the school, which has resulted in a significant number of students joining the department as junior firefighters. As a very active member of the community, Fries is known as an ambassador for fire safety and volunteerism in the region.

Fire service colleagues who nominated Fries noted his great passion for the fire service and steadfast commitment to the training and professional development of his members, as well as firefighters throughout the region. He is known for dedicating time to seek out new ideas for training and department drills and opening the doors to other area firefighters. Fries was also commended for his extraordinary commitment to inter-agency cooperation, working closely with neighboring departments, as well as county and state agencies. The Hammondsport Fire Department and Fries are strong supporters of NYSAFC training, hosting hands-on and classroom-based programs to provide additional training opportunities for local fire service personnel.

“In my many years in the fire service as a County Fire Coordinator, instructor, and facilitator of training programs, I have worked with a lot of fire chiefs. Chief William Fries of the Hammondsport Fire Department has impressed me with his leadership, knowledge of fire department operations, community involvement, and commitment to his firefighters and their families. He is the perfect Chief Officer to receive this honor and I’m proud to be a member of his department,” said Yates County Fire Coordinator (Ret.) Glen Miller.'

The other recipient who received the Career Fire Chief of the Year Award was Michael J. Monds from the Syracuse Fire Department.