Nominations Now Open for 2025 Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards

Columbus, Ohio – Do you know a deserving hero in your hometown? The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Division of EMS has officially opened nominations for the 2025 Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame and Fire Awards ceremony. The event will honor recipients at a special ceremony on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus.

Nominations are due by Dec. 20 and can be submitted by the public online at com.ohio.gov/HOFNom.

“This is an important event that I look forward to each year because it’s a time for us to come together and honor members of Ohio’s fire service who go above and beyond in service of their communities, each other and the firefighter profession,” said Ohio Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “I urge Ohioans to nominate those individuals who are deserving of this special honor and recognition.”

There are approximately 50,000 men and women who serve in Ohio’s fire service. This annual ceremony recognizes the bravery, commitment, and sacrifice those men and women make on behalf of their communities at great personal risk to themselves, and who are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme fire or other emergency rescue situation. During the ceremony, members of the fire services killed in the line of duty also will be honored.

“The Ohio Division of EMS is honored to be included in this ceremony to recognize extraordinary fire service personnel who lead fire service education, community-wide protection and prevention efforts, and dedicate their lives to preparing future generations of Ohio’s firefighters,” said Robert Wagoner, Executive Director of the Ohio Division of EMS.

Nominations of deserving candidates will be awarded in the following categories:

Ohio Fire Service Citizen’s Award – This award is given annually to members of the public who, at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme fire or other emergency rescue situation.
Ohio Fire Service Valor Award – This award is given annually to members of the fire service (active member of a career or volunteer fire service) who at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme emergency situation, whether serving in their official capacity as a firefighter or not, above and beyond the normal line of duty.
Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award – This award is given to outstanding individuals whose contributions to and leadership of the fire service within the state of Ohio have been a milestone in the development of those services; whose actions have served not just their community but have contributed significantly to the fire service on a regional, statewide and/or national basis; and, whose leadership and accomplishments in these areas are widely recognized and respected in the Ohio fire service.
Ohio Fire Department of Year Award – This award honors an Ohio Fire Department that has demonstrated outstanding teaching characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made a major impact in fire education in its community and department.
Ohio Fire Service Instructor of the Year Award – This award honors an Ohio Fire Service Instructor who has demonstrated outstanding teaching characteristics and because of these attributes has made major impact in fire education at their local fire department and fire charter.
Ohio Fire Officer of the Year Award – This award honors an Ohio Fire Officer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made major impact on the fire service at the local and regional level.
Ohio Fire Prevention Educator of the Year Award – This award honors an Ohio Fire Prevention Educator who has demonstrated innovative and outstanding teaching characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made a major impact on the field of fire prevention education in his or her community.
Ohio Fire Educator Lifetime Achievement Award – This award honors an Ohio Fire Educator who has demonstrated innovative and outstanding teaching characteristics and, because of these attributes, has made major contributions to the field of fire services at the local, regional, or national level.