Hoston earns firefighter honors
Engineer Josh Hoston was awarded both the Employee of the Year and the Union Service Award at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's annual awards banquet on Saturday.
Photo courtesy CDA Fire Department
COEUR d'ALENE — Josh Hoston earned two top honors during the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's annual awards banquet Saturday.
The engineer received both the Employee of the Year and the Union Service Award.
Hoston was described as a caring professional who cares deeply for his family, the fire department and the community.
“He only knows friends that he hasn’t met yet," said Capt. Jake Beiker. "His smile and laugh light up a room. He is a true brother to fellow firefighters."
A few hundred people attended the annual event at the Hagadone Event Center and there was much to celebrate. The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department responded to a record 10,022 emergency service calls in 2023.
Thomas Greif reflected on his second year as the department's fire chief and said he looks forward to fostering and building a premier fire department.
He laid out plans for completing a strategic plan using input from both the members of the department and partners in the community.
Other awards:
Ironman (individual with the most calls for service): Firefighter-Paramedic Morgan Zajicek
1,000 Club (responded to more than 1, 000 calls for service): Firefighter-Paramedic Morgan Zajicek and Firefighter-Paramedic Trenton Fleury
Award of Commendation: Capt. Matt Tosi, Firefighter-Paramedic Cody Moore, Firefighter-Paramedic Chad Matchell
Unit Citation: Battalion Chief Lee Holbrook, Capt. Joe Lind, Engineer Erik Loney, Firefighter Keith Benz, Firefighter-Paramedic Travis Georgius, Firefighter-Paramedic Lavoryn Nguyen, Capt. Chris Kieres, Engineer Jeff Butcher, Firefighter-Paramedic Mike Bowlin, Firefighter Chad Tortorelli, Firefighter-Paramedic Nick Pozzesi, Engineer Bill Dodd, Firefighter-Paramedic Cory Miles, Capt. Matt Tosi, Engineer Josh Hoston, Capt. Matt Sowa, Engineer Ben Hector, Firefighter Greg Thaxton, Firefighter-Paramedic James LaVille, Firefighter-Paramedic Sean Liebelt, Firefighter Blaine Porter, Engineer Kelan McKeirnan, Capt. Eric Paul, Capt. Tom Hiltenbrand, Engineer Matt Church, Capt. Nate Hyder, Engineer Dave Tysdal, Firefighter Matt Glenn, Firefighter-Paramedic Trenton Fleury, EMSO Steve Jones