Baldwin County Fire Chiefs Association president Gib Hixon, left, presented the annual Fire Chief of the Year award to Kenneth Ping, right, Chief of the Seminole Volunteer Fire Department, and the Firefighter of the Year award to Bon Secour’s Captain Ronnie Parker at their monthly meeting in Robertsdale.

Seminole firefighters nominated Chief Ping for his more than 35 years of dedication to the department and community. They said, “He is always available not only to the firefighters but anyone in the community who needs him, and his willingness to serve with his heart has made such a huge difference in the community.”

Ronnie Parker, nominated by Bon Secour fire chief Paul Shoenight, has been with the department for more than 17 years and is currently a Captain as well as President of the Board of Directors. Shoenight said Parker is a certified open water and rescue diver, and sets an example by staying involved with training to improve his abilities as a firefighter and diver. He received a “Life Saving” medal in 2011 for saving the life of an elderly woman suffering from dementia who had been missing for 48 hours.