Diego Lopez, Editor
The Village of Bluewater Volunteer Fire Department gathered on January 25 for its 2024 Awards Night, recognizing the dedication and service of its volunteers.
The event honored outstanding members, including Pierce Spencer, who received both the Fire Chief’s Award of Achievement and Fire Officer of the Year; Gilbert Turner, named 2024 Rookie of the Year; Melissa Garcia, awarded the Professional Development Award; Kelsey Spencer, recognized as Fire Safety Educator of 2024; and Alejandro Villalobos, who earned the 2024 Jr. Firefighter of the Year Award.
A special tribute was given to Carol Jarrell (pictured), who was honored with the Years of Service Award for an incredible 48 years of commitment to the department and community.
The Village of Bluewater is protected by their local fire department. The people protecting their community are directly from their community. They do not receive funding like a traditional fire department in a metropolitan area, and the labor put in by their staff is completely voluntary. Still, these heroes work to protect their village and the broader Cibola community.