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[NAPLES, FL] CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis honored 13 recipients at the 2018 Fire Service Awards held on Firefighter Appreciation Day on March 7, 2018 in Tallahassee. Included were North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District personnel Assistant Chief Eloy Ricardo and Public Education Officer Heather Mazurkiewicz. Chief Ricardo was recognized as the Firefighter of the Year for the State of Florida. Beginning his career with the District in 2001 as a firefighter, Chief Ricardo moved up through the ranks and now serves as the Assistant Chief of Life Safety and Prevention. The well-deserved recognition as Firefighter of the Year is a result of his service to the District and its more than 250 sworn personnel. Having served in the past as President of the District’s Professional Firefighters, and currently as the 11th District Vice President for the Florida Professional Firefighters, Chief Ricardo takes his leadership role seriously. Chief Ricardo’s dedication to the fire profession is equally matched by his dedication to the youth in his community. Architect of the Helmets to Heroes’ program, Chief Ricardo speaks to young people involved in team sports about career opportunities in the fire profession. Currently focused on area football programs, Chief Ricardo intends to expand the program to other organized sports. “Some of these kids I have coached since they put on their first pair of cleats, and now they are graduating. I want to expose them to the comradery and teamwork of the fire profession.” Chief Ricardo went on to say, “In only the third year of the Helmets to Heroes’ program, we have mentored and graduated four young men through the fire academy.” Officer Mazurkiewicz was recognized as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year for the State of Florida. Serving as North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District’s Public Education Officer since 2017, Mazurkiewicz oversees its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Community CPR programs as well as a myriad of other public education and outreach efforts. Additionally, since 2015, she has served as a volunteer firefighter with Bayshore Fire & Rescue in Ft. Myers, FL. Concurrently, Mazurkiewicz also functions as the Assistant State Director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. In this role, she travels to fire departments across the State of Florida teaching “Cancer in the Fire Service”. The two-hour program brings awareness that cancer is the #1 killer of firefighters, with 73% of line-of-duty deaths in 2017 attributed to the occupational disease. “Many people think it is what we (firefighters) breath in, and that is part of the equation, but the profession has become very good at wearing our SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) at fire scenes. Science is showing us the carcinogens in the smoke gather on our skin and are absorbed into our blood stream.” Mazurkiewicz continued, “These classes show firefighters the statistics - that cancer is an epidemic in our profession. But, we show them what they can do to significantly reduce their risk of being diagnosed with occupational cancer.” Fire Chief of North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District, James Cunningham, attended the ceremonies in support of Ricardo and Mazurkiewicz. Chief Cunningham stated “This recognition for Chief Ricardo and Public Education Officer Mazurkiewicz is truly a reflection of their commitment to our community. They do not hang up their helmets and put their boots away at the end of the day. They are engaged members of this community, and the citizens of Collier County are truly fortunate to be served by such dedicated members of the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District.” Governor Rick Scott issued a proclamation declaring, Wednesday, March 7, 2018 as Firefighter Appreciation Day across the state and said “Florida is home to the world’s best first responders, and I’m proud to recognize the dedication of our state’s firefighters who serve our communities. We also pause today to honor every firefighter who has given their life to protect others.”